A risk-reward strategy for Galway certainly paid dividends in the second half of their All-Ireland semi-final win over Derry, with forward Damien Comer saying "a bit more energy", that the Tribe brought to the game, was key.
Comer, who was named player of the match, helped himself to 2-02 as the Connacht side qualified for a first decider since 2001. In what was often a claustrophobic, turgid affair at Croke Park, where scores were at a premium, Comer's first goal on 47 minutes helped establish a six-point lead for his side and that in the end proved crucial.
The game was tied at 0-04 apiece at the interval, with Galway rightfully awarded an equalising score after Hawk-Eye had adjudged that Shane Walsh's 45 had gone wide. Replays showed that the ball had gone between the posts. The aforementioned technology was stood down for the second period.
The announcement that the score stood was greeted with a huge cheer by the Galway fans just as the second period was about to begin.
A second goal for Galway and Damien Comer, shooting into an empty net after a rapid counter-attack. The Tribesmen look to be on their way to the final
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 9, 2022
📱 https://t.co/AhGH0dO2Ff
Watch match highlights on #thesundaygame tomorrow night on @rte2 from 10.10pm pic.twitter.com/Ee8UZj1ffa
A game of two halves then, with Comer clearly highlighting Galway's improvement on the resumption when telling RTÉ Sport: "We had to regroup at half time; we felt we didn't play to our strengths in the first half. It was a cagey affair where both teams teased it out to see what was going to happen.
"Gaps appeared in the second half and we brought a bit more energy, we broke through the lines and the gaps opened up."
On showing greater expression, the Annaghdown clubman added: "Pádraic [Joyce] always tells us to go out and express ourselves. We knew what we were coming up against in Derry, a really solid outfit, hard to break down at times. We were overly cautious in the first half, re-assessed at half time and found the gaps and got the reward."
Looking ahead to being in a first All-Ireland final, Comer said :"It's a special moment, for the Galway fans it's been far too long. We've tried hard, year in, year out, to get back here and thankfully we're back."
