by michael mcmullan

AS quarter-finals go, Derry and Galway’s paths couldn’t have been any more different, but they charge into the same Croke Park cauldron this weekend with a place on the Championship’s biggest Sunday at stake.

Paul Cassidy’s hammer blow to the top corner had Clare all but on the bus home at half time, while Pádraic Joyce’s side had every emotion thrown at them before Matthew Tierney kicked them clear of Armagh in a penalty pressure cooker.

It didn’t end there. Captain Seán Kelly was left crossing his fingers to ensure his bizarre red card was rescinded after being somehow sent off by David Coldrick after the unsavoury melee as the teams left the pitch at the end of normal time.

Coupled with the 4-11 to 0-12 hammering that promoted Galway from Division Two and ended Derry’s hopes, it all adds fuel to a game that needs very little to whet the appetite.

Derry have been the story of the season, winning an Ulster title after starting 2019 in Division Four.

And Galway are always box office, one of the big hitters. They have flattered to deceive and have their underbelly questioned, but wins over Mayo, Roscommon and Armagh, coupled with some elements of their play – make them contenders for Sam.

Bad news for Derry is Galway’s 3-0 Championship record against them. Manager Pádraic Joyce was the attacking fulcrum for their 1998 and 2001 semi-final wins on the way to lifting Sam. Selector John Divilly played on the 1998 winning team.

Another selector, John Concannon, played alongside the duo and scored 1-4 in St Jarlath’s 1994 Hogan Cup final hammering of St Patrick’s Maghera.

When Corofin eased their way past Sleacht Néill on St Patrick’s Day 2015, Liam Silke came out on top against Chrissy McKaigue, Brendan Rogers and Padraig Cassidy.

Later that year, Rogers was black-carded as Galway dumped Derry out of the Qualifiers.

The links to Derry woe also go back to a teenage Paul Conroy raising the Tom Markham Cup in 2007 as Chrissy McKaigue looked on through the hazy fog of dejection.

That’s enough of the preamble and it’s the baggage this new generation of Derry players have no link with.

They are used to winning at both club and underage level, with Rory Gallagher binding all the blocks together with a togetherness fostered in spending virtually entire weekend’s in each other’s company, on and off the training pitch.

With a bumper attendance expected at headquarters, it makes for the biggest test to date. It’s got the ingredients for a more pure version of their arm wrestle than their extra-time win over Donegal.

Galway’s scoring average of 2-17 across 12 League and Championship games has been amassed from different corners of the pitch.

Derry, who are one point more defensively sound, have hit an average of 2-14 having played a game less.

After trailing 0-4 to 0-1, Galway’s players dropping back began to mark more than space in their win over Armagh. They pushed out on an Orchard direct game and that was yielding plenty of joy.

Galway goalkeeper Conor Gleeson stopped trying to win the ‘kick fada’ and driving the ball down Ben Crealey’s throat, reverting to a more calculated approach.

With Armagh’s Greg McCabe sitting in the pocket, Galway were forced to play the ball around the edges until Robert Finnerty and Tierney found space in the scoring hot spot as the Tribesmen were somehow level at half time.

Rory Gallagher was looking on from his perch in the stand as Galway rammed their authority home thanks to Johnny Heaney’s goal, again from Tierney working sneaking inside cover.

It was like Galway’s win over Derry in the League without the barrage of goals. When they hit, they delivered successive bursts.

The burst of three unanswered points that took them level at the break was cloned by a similar brace as Galway went six points clear before Rian O’Neill’s presence created enough panic to have the maroon foundations crumbling.

Galway were peppering high balls on the Armagh full back line that dealt with it in the first half, but their own last line of defence was far from convincing.

A glance at both team lists will have Derry and Galway fans praying and hoping for any inch.

Derry’s losing streak against Galway will end someday. They say hunger is the best sauce, but in the case of Derry’s season, the more they taste success, the more they want.

The 11-point tally was reflective of the gulf in class back in March, but it’s not the accurate story.

A lot of water has passed under the bridge since. Derry are a different beast, one that has changed its spots as the Championship unfolded.

They have a system that keeps things compact and leaves opposing defences faced by a human steam train coming on the overlap.

They’ll need at least one goal, but Derry to progress. Only just. Extra time? Don’t rule it out.

Verdict: Derry