by John Fallon

Galway captain Shane Walsh said it is strange to be heading into their first championship match of the season with All-Ireland contenders such as Tyrone and Kerry already gone from the title race.

And while many hurlers and footballers around the country are avoiding the hype in the build-up to big games because of Covid-19 restrictions, there has been no escape for Walsh who works front of house for Bank of Ireland in Tuam where they has been no shortage of Galway and Mayo fans coming through the door keen to chat about the championship.

“People are keen to talk about the games, especially as they can’t go to them. The Galway and Mayo rivalry has always been strong and it is no different this time around, even if the build-up is so strange.

“Obviously, in Tuam there’s no shortage of Galway fans coming through the door but we get plenty of Mayo people too and they are mad keen to chat about the games. I enjoy it, it’s a great way to meet and get to know customers. There’s always plenty of banter.

“It’s just so strange this year. Sunday is our first game and already the likes of Tyrone and Kerry are gone, but we can’t lose sight of what we need to do on Sunday against Mayo,” said the 27-year old.

The Kilkerrin-Clonberne clubman didn’t play in the shock 3-23 to 0-17 league defeat to Mayo last month because of knee and ankle injuries, but he doesn’t think it will have a big bearing on next Sundayand said they are not on a revenge mission.

“The nature of games between the counties is that one is usually trying to reverse the result of the previous one, there is never much between them over the years.

“There's a huge rivalry there between Galway and Mayo. Supporters have had a huge impact on it as well, you have that atmosphere at the games (in normal times). That's going to be different on Sunday, like it was in the league game.

“It's up to the players on the pitch to pull out that performance. No one can turn to the supporters to get you going, you have to get yourself going. It is a massive thing, the Galway-Mayo rivalry. The game always takes on a life of its own.”

Walsh said that lockdown presented a lot of challenges but he feels the players and management handled it well.

“It was a mental challenge in a way, I suppose, different to what you're normally used to. I thought the way we all set ourselves up through our WhatsApp and we all kept in touch.

“Everyone was driving each other on and I think that really helped when you were at home training by yourself, trying to do your bit in the back lawn it makes it so much easier when you see other players doing the same thing.

“That's what fuels the group, that's what fuels the belief in what we're trying to do. While it was a challenge, it was actually an enjoyable one as it turns out because you kind of feared the worst, but once we got into it it was very enjoyable.

 “It showed the value of sport. I see it in the bank the whole time. It's the topic on everyone's lips. That's what it was nearly always during the summer. 'Will the football go ahead?', 'Do you think there will be people at it?' “There are so many people out there who are looking forward to these games and that's what they want to talk about. Even the Cork-Kerry game on Sunday, the excitement it brought. People are talking about it, it's on everyone's lips. It means so much, the GAA. It's a huge thing in Ireland and for Irish people abroad. Everyone is looking to see it; everyone is excited about it. Hopefully we can add a bit more excitement in the Galway colours on Sunday.”

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