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23rd January 2024
02:43pm GMT

"But overall I don't think it's a great strategy to have I don't think it should be still in the game, but that's for the others to decide."The 30-year-old would have more meas for the attacking mark if it was only inside the 21 and actually rewarded players for out-fielding their opponent, but even at that reckons it's unnecessary. [caption id="attachment_297213" align="alignnone" width="1000"]
8 May 2022; Damien Comer of Galway catches the ball ahead of Donal Casey of Leitrim during the Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship Semi-Final match between Galway and Leitrim at Pearse Stadium in Galway. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile[/caption]
"The art of defending and the art of taking on a man are obviously key skills of the game so I think by just getting a little punt-pass to your chest where you're winning it two or three yards in front of your man, and putting your hand up for a free shot at goal, I think it's a bit unfair.
"Fair enough, if you kick it in around the penalty box and go up and catch it above your head, I wouldn't be completely against that.
"There's an argument for that if you're outfielding someone, but when it's just a 20 yard punt-pass, I think it nullifies the whole objective of it.
"I don't think it's needed at all, although that is an alteration I would probably make to it (that it's only inside the 21) But yeah, I don't think there's any need for it at all."
The Annaghdown club-man endured something of a frustrating 2023 season, having picked up knee and hamstring injuries but he's happy to report a clean bill of health, having come through Galway's pre-season training regime unscathed.
"From a personal level it was a very frustrating sort of a year," he reflects.
"I felt good coming back after a bit of pre-season and then the Mayo game, I was just trying to get back to fitness.
"Then I had the knee injury against Roscommon. I was lucky to get away with only being out for maybe six weeks with that and not doing my cruciate. T
"Then to get back then and have niggling hamstring injuries after that, trying to get it right, playing certain games, missing other games - it was frustrating overall. I felt like I was moving ok when I was on the pitch but I was just struggling to stay on the pitch."
"It's more what you can do outside of training, by diet, sleep, recovery, and then getting the balance right from a load perspective."
"I'm at a stage now where I know my body well that if I'm in danger of doing something, I'd sit out a session. I'd rather be training all the time but you have to balance it. We've a great set-up in Galway and the S and C team would be on top of it that way.
"It's not really avoidance, it's more so being in the best possible shape and preparing well.
"Having a base of pre-season helps the robustness as well so having that bank of training done certainly stands to you."
Galway take on Mayo in Pearse Stadium on Sunday, in a game that will get their Allianz National League campaign for 2024 underway.
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Pictured are players from last year’s Allianz Football Division 1 Final, Mayo footballer Cillian O’Connor, and Galway footballer, Damien Comer at the launch of the 2024 Allianz Football League. The Allianz Football League provides an opportunity for all players to claim their spot in the county panel for the season ahead. The return of inter-county action, after a five-month break, also affords the teams competing a chance to showcase their strengths and lay down a marker to their county rivals.Explore more on these topics: