Galway were well beaten in their last two games last year having lost just one of 13 League and Championship outings up to then.
But boss Kevin Walsh doesn’t subscribe to the notion that the loss to Monaghan, when they were already assured of an All-Ireland semi-final spot, bled into their defeat to Dublin seven days later.
Rather, the experienced Tribesman manager simply puts it down to a lack of firepower at key moments.
“To be honest I don’t [think the Monaghan game had an effect],” Walsh said.
“I would have said if we had a poor first half I would question it, but we had something like 18 chances to Dublin’s 12 in the first half.
“Three goal chances, they had a half a goal chance and they got it.
“We had ample opportunities to be five or six points up at half time and it wasn’t lack of performance.
“It was lack of shooting. If it was a thing where we were wiped of the field in the first half, I certainly would be looking at your argument and saying you are possibly right in that.”
