O'Donnell: 'They've really added to the group'
Gary O Donnell has played with Galway since 2008.
By Cian O'Connell
Gary O’Donnell has soldiered on the inter-county beat with Galway since 2008. Good and bad days have been enjoyed and endured, but O’Donnell feels Galway can return to ‘the top table’ soon.
Galway’s Allianz Football League Division Two record was two wins, three draws, and two defeats. How can that campaign be assessed? “I suppose the word is inconsistent really,” O’Donnell admits. “It is probably a word that comes up with us a lot. We are well aware of it, we are trying to address it.
“Kevin (Walsh) has obviously come in with ideas and tactics and lads are trying to get their heads around a couple of things to maybe improve on certain aspects of our game. We are hoping that we will get that right for the games over the summer.”
O’Donnell was part of the Galway panel when the Tribesmen last triumphed in Connacht in 2008. It has been a demanding stint, though, as Mayo remain the standard bearers in the west. “It is probably difficult enough, in fairness to the managers who were there before Kevin I don’t think that they did anything particularly wrong.
“Players have to take a lot of responsibility in that we didn’t play to the best of our ability. We did not gel well, we didn’t perform on days and got caught by lesser teams.
“That filtered down through the years and we probably lost confidence. We are not the only county to have suffered like that as well.
“Counties have moved on with structures and facilities and we have probably been left behind slightly. We have a bit of ground to make up, but the fact that we have the players, if we can put the head down over the next year or two I have no doubt that Galway can be back at the top table again.”
Galway captain Gary O Donnell.
With five Championship debutants named Walsh has introduced several youngsters recently. “They acquitted themselves well,” O’Donnell said about how the newcomers fared during the Connacht FBD nad Allianz Football Leagues.
“Every year you probably need to be bringing through a couple of players to keep things fresh to keep guys on their toes. We are happy with a few lads that have come in and they've really added to the group. They've performed well in the league to be fair.”
A string of established players have opted out of the Galway scene to emigrate which has been a blow according to O’Donnell. “Things have just changed over the years. Seven or eight years ago if you were asked to go in with Galway you'd bite the hand off anyone that would ask you to come in. It is a huge honour, I don't think that has changed. A lot of lads are very proud to represent their county, but lifestyle and things have changed since.
“Lads have opportunities to go abroad or opportunities to go to New York and London and places like that to spend their summers. That is very, very appealing for some lads. That is just the way priorities are.
Gary O Donnell following the 2014 All Ireland qualifier loss against Cork at Croke Park.
“Playing inter-county football at the moment is an absolutely huge commitment. Obviously you're training four or five times a week, but at the same time everything else takes a back seat be it your lifestyle or your social life or whatever it is.
“The other two days of the week consist of doing recovery or stretching or even doing something on your own that might need improving be it ball skills or fitness or gym. It is literally a seven day a week job watching what you do sacrificing things that you can't go to as a result.
“I'm not complaining because it is a choice thing at the end of the day to play for your county. It is a very proud thing to do, but at the same time I can see why it mightn't appeal to other lads initially. They've other choices to go to other places to enjoy themselves. You couldn't begrudge them that.”
