Aidan O’Shea says Mayo were expecting Galway to respond to recent Connacht Championship losses to their rivals and were prepared.
The sides served up an entertaining fare for the most part during their Salthill duel, which Mayo won by 1-15 to 2-08, but the stats will show that three players were sent to the line by referee Padraig Hughes
Galway’s Paul Conroy and Finian Hanley were black-carded, with Hanley, having already been booked, getting a red late on.
Lee Keegan of Mayo saw yellow at the very start and in injury time for delaying the game and was also shown red.
O’Shea knew that the Tribesmen would try to get physical but had the sense not to get involved in any needless nonsense, in particular the late melee, which saw Keegan sent off.
“Galway, the last couple of years, we’ve had it easy against them,” he told RTÉ Sport.
“I suppose they tried to impose themselves a little bit today. It didn’t work for them, they’re the ones on the losing side with two fellows getting sent off, that’s the way it is. I stayed away from [the late pushing and shoving]. Being as tall as I am they’d probably pick me out if I went in there.
"I think Leeroy [Keegan] got a second yellow to go off as well so that’s a bit disappointing but we got the win so that’s the most important thing.
“Galway have good players, we know that. [Manager] Kevin Walsh has come in this year and we expected them to be a lot tougher and it was.
“We probably let them in with the two goals, and they were poor goals from our own point of view to give away. We gave away some sloppy balls from our half-back line. They are the things we need to work on.”
“I suppose they tried to impose themselves a little bit today. It didn’t work for them"
The Mayo three-pointer turned out to be an own goal by Hanley after a strong run from O’Shea, used in a roving role, caused problems in the home side’s defence.
“I don’t know, can I take credit for it,” he said jokingly.
“I went on a run, I think Manus [Breathnach, Galway goalkeeper] came out and fly-kicked the ball. I think it came off one of their defenders and went in but any bit of luck we get, we’ll take it.
"It’s nice [playing in a loose role], I’ve got a bit of freedom around the park. I enjoyed it in there today but I got a fouled a bit too much for my liking but it was all right.”
