Laying down the line for future progression

Kieran Fitzgerald believes Liam Sammon's old-school approach has freshened things up for the Galway football team, writes Gavin Cummiskey

EVEN LIAM Sammon expressed concern about the timing of it all. Given he had just been announced as the new Galway football manager, releasing a coaching manual entitled Optimising Performance in Gaelic Footballset him up for a fairly steep fall.

"But then I was reminded who was going to benefit from the book and that removed any doubt. Of course the book had to come out," explained Sammon back in January. All proceeds went to the Physically Challenged Youth Teams charity.

Sammon is an old-school football man. The booklet focuses primarily on team preparation with a particular emphasis on improving kicking skills.

An All-Ireland winner in 1966, when just a 19-year-old catching the tailend of Galway's three-in-a-row triumph, he went on to gather All Star awards in 1971 and 1973.

After several years of hiring managers from neighbouring counties, Peter Ford and Sunday's opposing bainisteoir John O'Mahony, the Galway county board went back to their own for 2008.

Veteran defender Kieran Fitzgerald, an All Star himself during Galway's last All-Ireland success of 2001, is best placed to comment on Sammon's impact.

"The slate was wiped clean and he didn't bring with him anything from the previous years. Everyone had the chance to make their mark. We were going to play a different style of football and there was a different type of training. That's the way it is, the players are enjoying it and he's getting a great response.

"Liam would be regarded as a traditionalist - there's nothing revolutionary about his training techniques. It's all about the skills of the game and moving the ball fast; that's the way he wants to play and that's what we're trying to do. It doesn't always work because, even though we had a great league, Kerry put us back in our box in the game in Salthill.

"It's a work in progress and we don't know where it's going to bring us this year."

Sammon knew the forward talent at his disposal and has decided to revolve the game plan around captain Pádraic Joyce and star turn Micheál Meehan.

"He has a great way about him and he makes sure everyone is involved," Fitzgerald continued. "The style we're playing, the players have grasped it. It suits the type of player we have, like Pádraic Joyce and Micheál Meehan. We're playing to our strengths and we're fortunate to have a good forward unit. The best way to utilise that is to move the ball fast."

Joyce looked to be living off past glories when Westmeath scalped Galway in the qualifier match at a howling Salthill in 2006. Two years on he has silenced the critics in the puppeteer role that makes him the heartbeat of this team.

"Moving the ball fast suits Pádraic because he is one of the best passers in the game. He's key to our game, he's captain and he's taking on a lot of responsibility. He plays better with that responsibility, I think, and our game centres around that pivotal centre-forward position.

"He played great against Leitrim - he got the goal and he's a real leader. In the dressingroom he involves everyone. He's been around a long time and he's very experienced. He has two All-Ireland medals and his All Stars so everyone looks up to him; he's well respected."

If any man can decipher the Galway patterns it is Mayo manager John O'Mahony, having orchestrated Sam Maguire's last two returns over the Shannon, in 1998 and 2001. Now in his second season back with his native province, O'Mahony has started a rebuilding process that may well reach early fruition at McHale Park this Sunday.

"I know Johnno very well," said Fitzgerald. "He gave me my start in 2000 with Galway. I'd have huge admiration for him and he'd be a great friend of mine on and off the field. I have great respect for him and I know I could pick up the phone to him any time for a chat, but not this week.

"Next Sunday we'll put the friendship to one side for 70 minutes and then afterwards we'll shake hands."