Walsh wants Galway to push on

Galway football manager Kevin Walsh is determined to seize the moment when his side take on Tipperary in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-final at Croke Park on Sunday.

The Tribesmen have little to show for their endeavours since winning the title back in 2001, with just a single quarter-final appearance and a series of surprise defeats in the qualifiers their lot since then.

However, they romped to victory over a much-fancied Roscommon side in the Connacht final replay and Walsh feels that they can make a significant impact in the championship this summer.

"I suppose it's like everything else you can talk about getting over the line. It was important for this bunch to get over the line this year, albeit they're a fairly young team, but it's never too early to achieve things,” he said.

"There is a bit of experience there as well and it's important to have that good mix."

Galway play Tipperary at headquarters on Sunday and, while they may be favourites in many people’s eyes with a strong record on the hallowed turf of Jones Road, Walsh is well aware of the threat that a resurgent Premier team will pose.

"In the last 15 years Galway have't won a game in Croke Park," he added.

“It’s important then for this group of players to win a game in Croke Park. It’s about improving.

"We are happy with our Connacht final win but we have moved on now to an All-Ireland quarter-final and there is nothing easy there.

“I watched them against Derry and Cork and they were impressive in both games. They were beaten by ten points by Kerry (Munster final) but it was never a ten-point game and Éamonn Fitzmaurice alluded to that.

"Like ourselves, they have young fellas coming through. They won Division 3 a couple of years ago and have backed that up with underage success. They are on a roll so it's going to be very difficult.

“It will be great achievement to get to a semi-final. The belief is there. I'm not going to say that it's not. It was there heading to Castlebar, to Pearse Stadium and back to Castlebar again. We do believe we can go on and win but we have to go and do it."

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