GALWAY forward Cillian Ó Curraoin was licking his lips at the prospect of feasting on Armagh under football’s new rules.
The Mícheál Breathnach clubman was man of the match against the Orchard on Saturday — scoring five points — in a 1-12 to 0-9 win in terrible conditions at Pearse Stadium.
Ó Curraoin nailed a superb two-pointer from outside the new scoring arc in the 53rd minute.
And last season’s Footballer of the Year Paul Conroy and Shane Walsh followed up with two-pointers to get Galway’s NFL Division 1 campaign off to a flying start.
Hitman Ó Curraoin is loving the rules, which came into effect for the first time in competitive inter-county football last weekend.
The Galway starlet said: “They’re unbelievable for an inside forward. I was looking forward to it for a long time.
“I watched the interpros and was really licking my lips. It was great to come out in front of a crowd and play.
“Everyone is sussing each other out and we saw that in the first half.
“What are they going to do with kick-outs? What are they going to do with the press?
“It will take a while for everyone to kind of bring their own spin and dynamic to it. It’s exciting.”
With Conroy, Walsh, Ó Curraoin, Rob Finnerty and Damien Comer all capable of monster kicks, two-pointers will be a big target in the Galway camp ahead of the second-round clash with Mayo on Sunday in Castlebar.
And he hopes the Tribesmen can repeat the dose against their Connacht arch rivals.
But Ó Curraoin knows the lure of a double score could mean fewer goals.
He said: “I suppose we’re blessed with kickers in Galway. We always were.
“In the last few years with blanket defences, it was hard to use kickers and skilful players.
“This is a really good chance for the likes of Conroy, Shane Walsh or any of the other forwards in that dressing room to really express themselves and use that two-point arc.
“But if everyone is so focused on the two-point arc, they kind of forget about a goal.
“It’s gas as well because if you keep going for those two-pointers, it leaves an acre of space inside for a goal. It’s just trying to grasp the two.
“We played to the elements in the second half. In the first half, we focused on getting two points instead of bringing it in. There’s this kind of pocket in the D that we weren’t using. Armagh were pressing out and we were taking on crazy shots, including one I took myself.
“But we played the elements in the second half.
“We were bringing it in, bringing it out, working scores and getting it to the kickers. That was the difference in the end.”
BALANCING ACT
Ó Curraoin has juggled college and inter-county football this month as he lined out in the Sigerson Cup for the University of Galway.
His side failed to make the quarter-finals but the attacker was frustrated that the college competitions are being played under the old rules.
He said: “It’s interesting. I was saying to one of the lads that we went from the old rules last Wednesday night to the new rules.
“Even in the last few weeks of Sigerson, we’ve been going from the old rules to the new rules and it’s a big contrast.
“You love coming back to Galway training sometimes because you’re so frustrated playing in the Sigerson because of the old rules.”
The Orchard pipped Galway in last July’s All-Ireland final, leaving Pádraic Joyce’s men still searching for a first Sam Maguire Cup since 2001.
And Ó Curraoin insists beating Kieran McGeeney’s charges on Saturday was not about revenge, but winning a first Division 1 crown since 1981.
He added: “Winning it, yeah — 100 per cent. We really wanted to start off the league with two points and we have Mayo next. We weren’t planning on avenging anything. That wasn’t our focus in the Armagh game. We worked hard throughout November, December and January.
“We’re here now, we got the win and we got the first two points.”
Joyce’s backroom team underwent a shake-up after last year’s decider defeat.
Coach Cian O’Neill rejoined the Kerry backroom team but Mickey Graham arrived — performing a U-turn just two months after taking the Leitrim manager’s job.
David Morris has come aboard from Corofin and Ó Curraoin is loving the new dynamic in training as the 2022 and 2024 All-Ireland finalists look to keep challenging for top honours.
He said: “It’s great. Mickey and Dave are unreal.
“They’ve brought their own kind of spin to it and it’s great to hear their opinions on the new rules and a new fresh voice coming in.
“It’s great to have them. We don’t have a set coach and I suppose everyone does their own bit. It’s great to have.”
