Galway manager Henry Shefflin says they will be a beaten docket by half-time against Tipperary on Sunday if they repeat their sloppy opening 35 minutes against Westmeath last weekend.
But Shefflin is confident they can repeat the sort of form they showed when they blitzed Westmeath after the restart when they head to Thurles on Sunday for their first big test of the year in the Allianz League.
However, he will head there minus another forward with Portumna’s Declan McLoughlin, who had a bright start to 2024 with a keen eye for goal, ruled out for several weeks with a broken thumb suffered in the opening half against Westmeath.
“Declan was very unlucky in the first half not to get goals, he was the one player who was really taking on his man and looking very dangerous,” said Shefflin.
His men struggled to build a lead when they had the strong wind in the opening half but got a burst before the break to lead 0-15 to 0-6, before taking over after the restart and running out 4-31 to 0-12 winners.
“We were very sloppy and very casual in our play in the first half and I was very disappointed with that. In fairness the second half was better but we need to bring some real focus to next week.
“We know if we perform like that again in the first half in Thurles on Sunday, the game will be over. It’s a real test now for us, the first real test of the year going down to Thurles to play Tipperary.
“But every day you wear the jersey should be a test. You need to go out with real intent and set the right footing so from that point of view that was disappointing (against Westmeath). The second half was better and the lads played a bit better. Next Sunday’s test is exactly what we want. We are looking forward to it,” added Shefflin.
He and his management have trimmed the Galway squad to 36 for the league but stopped short of naming it as it still remains fluid. Last week he lost Kevin Cooney to a hamstring injury which will sideline him for three to four months and then lost McLoughlin last week.
And with several players still involved in Fitzgibbon he may need to draft others back in, having released seven players just before the start of the league.
