Kevin McStay: Galway gathering momentum ahead of Mayo showdown in Connacht Championship

Kevin McStay says Galway have 'ticked all the boxes' during their unbeaten league campaign as their Connacht Championship date with Mayo comes into sight.

The Tribesmen routed Derry on Sunday to seal promotion back to Division 1 at the first attempt and are the only team in all four divisions to boast a 100% record.

Given the short gap between league and championship, which has been made even shorter by virtue of Galway reaching the league final, McStay felt a good league campaign was vital for Padraic Joyce's side ahead of their Connacht quarter-final showdown on 24 April.

McStay told the RTÉ GAA Podcast: "This was always going to be a big year for Galway. It had to be, in both the league and the championship.

"Galway couldn’t afford to just wander through the league, win three and lose four, because the morale of the Galway supporter is a delicate thing at the best of times. He has to be nourished and brought forward, or he won’t show up at all for the championship.

"The draw with Mayo was brilliant for Galway in that they had immediate focus for their season.

"The gap between the league and championship was short enough for them to say, 'we have to leave the league in form with a team that is consistent, that we know our best XV and the next three or four subs’.

"They’ve ticked all those boxes."

Galway had four different goalscorers in their 11-point thumping of Derry at Owenbeg with Matthew Tierney hitting 1-03 and Dessie Conneely 1-02. The only negative was an injury to Damien Comer, who was forced off early in the second half.

"Galway had a strong team out against Derry," said McStay. "Paul Conroy, Comer, Tierney, Cillian McDaid – they are typical good Galway footballers, plenty of style and confidence in their own ability.