Galway face ultimate test

THE AFTERNOON of Sunday, July 30 may have been a date ringed in red on the calendar for Galway football supporters and while the journey hasn't been without it's many twists and turns, Kevin Walsh and his side have eventually arrived at their destination, albeit without Connacht silverware in tow.

The cliché goes that the Tribesmen are a Croke Park team and it represents a happy hunting ground. The reality doesn't stack up in modern times, however. More than half a century has passed since Galway prevailed against Kerry in championship football and prior to April's Division 2 final win over Kildare, they hadn't tasted victory on Jones Road since the 2001 All-Ireland final.
Éamonn Fitzmaurice's side have been installed at 2/9 and five point favourites on the handicap line, and with all that's gone before, Galway will require something special if they're to pull off the shock of the summer and wipe out Kerry's status as Dublin's primary All-Ireland challenger come 3.30pm on Sunday.

Read our full preview in this week's edition of The Tuam Herald