Fáilte chuig gaa.ie - suíomh oifigiúil CLG

Football

football

Galway's Paul Conroy suffers season-ending injury

Paul Conroy of Galway is helped off the field on a stretcher after breaking his leg against Kerry in the All-Ireland SFC Quarter-Final. 

Paul Conroy of Galway is helped off the field on a stretcher after breaking his leg against Kerry in the All-Ireland SFC Quarter-Final. 

By John Harrington

Galway midfielder Paul Conroy has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a double leg-break in today’s All-Ireland SFC Quarter-Final against Kerry.

Conroy sustained the injury after an accidental, but sickening collision with Kerry’s Seán O’Shea, and after the match Galway manager Kevin Walsh confirmed the inspirational midfielder faces an extended spell on the sidelines.

“Just after hearing that it's a double break in the leg, so it's not good for the year for him at the minute,” said Walsh.

“Look it, we'll look after him and I'm sure he'll be bouncing around as soon as he gets things done with himself.

“A big loss for us, he's a real warrior for the year, so we wish him well on that.”

Conroy’s injury is a blow for Galway’s aspirations of winning an All-Ireland title this year, but they definitely proved they’re genuine contenders with today’s win over Kerry.

It wasn’t a match for the purists with both teams guilty of a litany of errors and some poor shooting in the first half in particular.

Galway manager Kevin Walsh congratulates Eoghan Kerin after victory over Kerry in the All-Ireland SFC Quarter-Final. 

Galway manager Kevin Walsh congratulates Eoghan Kerin after victory over Kerry in the All-Ireland SFC Quarter-Final. 

But Galway eventually came good to outscore Kerry by 1-5 to 0-1 between the 55th and 74th minutes as they finished the match on an impressive high.

“I suppose conditions for both sides were poor and the players for the past two months have been playing on surfaces that was bouncing ball and no gloves required so it was tough for the players,” said Walsh.

“It was something like three points each after half an hour so it was pretty cagey, I suppose.

“But, yeah, I'd be very happy with the second-half in relation to how they pushed on a bit. But, having said that, it's still the first game of a mini-League, really, the first game of a three-game period.

“So, great to have the win, but we look forward to Newbridge next week.”

Walsh was doing his best to play down the significance of the win, but a first victory over Kerry in the Championship since 1965 and a first championship win in Croke Park in 11 matches feels like a real coming of age moment for his fast improving young team.

“I suppose, look it, it probably may be,” said Walsh. “It puts one or two stats out of the way, maybe. At the end of the day, it is a first win in however number of years so it was important for us to perform today and, you know, everything wasn't perfect. It wasn't perfect for Kerry either, there were a lot of wides on both sides.

“Something we'll have to improve on, but, at the same time, the application from the players was very, very good for this game in particularly.

“Again, it's one game of three so we've a lot of work to do on it. I'm sure Kerry themselves will be finding holes that they have themselves as well and working the same way.”