Galway manager, John O'Mahony could not disguise his pleasure when he spoke about his hopes for the future after their win over his home county yesterday but admitted that his side's defensive frailty could cost them. "The fact of the matter is that we have to win two matches to win the Connacht championship and this victory today will mean very little if we don't do that.

"What I am most pleased about is that even though the scores weren't coming, we stuck to our task and the hard work we had done in the lead up to this match showed in the way we played. "Basically this was a team victory. We had a fantastic midfield performance; but we also did the simple things well.

"John Divilly came back after injury and although he was a very doubtful starter a couple of weeks ago, he fitted very well into our scheme and I am very pleased about that as well," he added. "We worked non-stop throughout the field and I don't know what would have happened if McDonald's shot, which hit the bar, had gone in. "Mayo are always great competitors and there is no doubt at all about it, in my mind Kenneth Mortimer has been the best cornerback in the country for several years. Mayo have been tremendous ambassadors for the game in Connacht, and I don't take a great deal of pleasure in seeing them beaten.

"We must keep our feet on the ground, however. We meet Leitrim in the semi-final in Carrick-on-Shannon in a few weeks' time and that is not ever going to be an easy match to win. We have to look at the fact that we conceeded two goals and that suggests to me that we will have to tighten up our defence if we are going to go any further." However, Galway's midfielder, Kevin Walsh criticised his team for the concession of two goals. "That is not a good sign as far as our defence is concerned and Mayo were still within a point of us late in the second half," he said. "Our full forward line was great, but we will have to get them a better supply of the ball if they are to prosper as much as we need them to do.

"This victory has given us a big boost; but we have a long way to go yet before we can claim the Connacht championship. There is a lot of hard work to do."

Mayo manager, John Maughan, was unequivocal in his response to the defeat. "We didn't deserve to win. We had our chances and we didn't take them," he said emphatically. "Galway had a very well balanced team and I think that they could be a big force in the championship this year. They have worked very hard, they are very fit and they have some very fine players. I wish them the best of luck and I'll be keeping a close eye on them for the rest of the championship season."

Smiling broadest of all in the Galway dressing room was the Irish international soccer team's physiotherapist Mick Byrne, who has been working with the Galway team throughout the league campaign. "The lads were absolutely great and it's wonderful to see guys like these working so hard as amateurs because they are so devoted to their county," he said. "I take great pleasure in working with lads like these because I know how much it means to them and how much it means to all the people around the country in the GAA.

"I'm now looking forward to the match against Leitrim and hopefully to a Connacht championship and an appearance for Galway at Croke Park," he said.