Home truths galvanise Galway

If he were a storyteller, John O'Mahony could put a unique spin on Connacht football lore. Over the past decade, he has lit the torches in his native Mayo and awakened slumbering passions in Leitrim, inspired sights that stay in the memory.

Now, he is busy crafting a Galway revival, calmly attempting to lead them towards their first All-Ireland final since 1983. Coasting through the early rounds of the Connacht final and surviving a stubborn stand by Roscommon, Galway's supporters are approaching Sunday's semi-final against Derry in upbeat mood. For the manager, things have rarely seemed so dangerous.

"There was definitely an unreal atmosphere about things against Mayo and Leitrim, those wins created an unprecedented buzz and there was a definite sense that Galway were going places this year. The Roscommon games illustrated that there are no guarantees when it comes to advancing in this championship."

O'Mahony rejects that Galway ever underestimated the substance behind Roscommon's challenge, insists that they always knew it would be a fairly balanced match. Ultimately, both games offered him a few home truths about his side.

"Having got through those games, they proved useful in that they highlighted that while we can play some good football, there are a number of little things we need to improve on."

"But, you know, there was a stage in the second half of the replay when we were two points down and there was a big question mark hanging over us then and it was pleasing to see that our team had the character to respond to that so positively."

Mostly though, he was pleased with the general response of his players. "It would be remiss of me to say that we have certain individuals who are leaders, more so that each of our players stepped up at different times. It extends beyond the first 15. In the replay, we put in Fergal Gavin and Shea Walsh and Damien Mitchell and they all responded magnificently."

This week Galway are preparing to face Derry without Kevin Walsh, their talented and injury-plagued midfielder, who ripped a calf muscle against Roscommon.

"Naturally, we are giving Kevin every possible chance to recover. He would be a major loss but we have to continue on an optimistic note. The thing about Galway is that there is huge competition for places and should Kevin fail to come through, we have high-calibre players capable of coming in. Even if you take the example of Damien Mitchell, there is a lad who was a regular starter until this season and for a variety of reasons, he lost out but he continues to work hard and already this summer he has made a vital contribution."

"And while Kevin is a loss, Paul Clancy was absent for both games against Roscommon and he is coming back into the reckoning, so it all balances out."

In recent weeks O'Mahony has looked at the murky highlights film of Derry's win over Donegal in the Ulster final. Dire weather negated the viewing as a worthy representation of form.

"Well, obviously it suggests they are a team who hang in there and who know how to win. They will come to Croke Park, a ground where they have won league titles and an All-Ireland in recent years and will be expected to go on. We are probably the least fancied team of those remaining. We feel we are in with a shout, if we can sustain a consistent level of play, iron out the small things."

Although Galway and Derry played their respective provincial finals on the same relentlessly wet day, it was noted that the Connacht game was characterised by essentially open football while Derry profited from closing down and grimly squirming through a war of attrition. Will there be a similar contrast of styles come Sunday?

"Well, it might be said that Derry are a team who close down but isn't it true of the modern game that all teams do that when they lose possession now? Derry have a lot of football in them and I feel they will show that on Sunday. I just hope that we can keep creating the same amount of chances as we have done over the summer."

But has the failure to convert more of them not been a worry?

"Well, we hit 20 wides in the replay. If we hit even half of them, we would have finished on 1-27, a score which would have been unequalled around the place for a while. But at least we are creating. The game is fast now, defenders are putting players under pressure more. Scores don't come so easy."