Win the psychological battle
Anyone who observed Armagh’s Rian O’ Neill screaming down our Television screens after their narrow extra time victory over Kerry were left in no doubt that the Armagh lads are coming down the motorway this weekend intent on one thing only.
Winning.
O’ Neill told the viewers – that Armagh “are not coming to Dublin in two weeks just to make up the numbers”.
His demeanour told you all you needed to know about the intent, drive and energy that they will be bringing to the contest once Seán Hurson throws in the ball at 3.30pm this Sunday.
The Galway players must be ready for a real battle for the full seventy-five/eighty minutes of what is expected to be a fiercely fought contest.
Against Donegal and even Dublin, those games at no stage descended into a visceral and primitive contest where it became almost one-to-one duels, with the better man moving on.
The Galway players will need to have done their individual visualisation techniques to ensure that they are ready for any eventuality next Sunday.
Often in a really closely contested All-Ireland final it is the team and the individuals involved, who have the most self-belief that prevail.
Galway must be ready for that psychological battlefield, because Armagh will bring the game wherever it has to go in order to get over the winning line.
Last Sunday when Clare were brought to their limits by Cork in that enthralling final – it was Tony Kelly who really stood up for the Banner men and powered them down the path to victory.
Will Galway have men like that in their ranks this Sunday?
Get more scores from play from Comer and Walsh
Galway’s full-forward Damien Comer did not score against Donegal in the semi-final or in the quarter-final against Dublin.
The Annaghdown man won a few scorable frees and nicked a few turnovers between the two games, however Padraic Joyce will want a bigger scoring threat from his 2022 All-Star.
If Damien could power into the game this Sunday and rattle over a few points or even burst through for what would probably be a vital goal – the maroon supporters on Hill 16 and all around the ground would be given a massive reason to really let loose in supporting their team. Supporters need to be given something to cheer for and when Comer cuts lose he does just that.
Comer has been struggling with injury most of the season, even as far back as the first round against Sligo when he came on in the last few minutes to save Galway from defeat.
However, hopefully the last two games will have brought him on significantly and he can put in a performance similar to the one he produced against Mayo in the Connacht final.
Likewise – Galway will be hopeful that Shane Walsh can manage an influential fifty or sixty minutes this weekend.
Walshie hit two surreal points from play against Dublin in the first half and they were the scores that kept Galway in touch when the Dubs threatened to overpower Galway and pull into a significant lead.
He also popped over a lovely point in the second half following a turnover on Cluxton’s kickout by Comer.
Like Comer – Walsh has been struggling with injury all season – that said Galway will probably need a bit of Walsh’s magic to get Seán Kelly up the steps of the Hogan stand.
Two years ago in the final – the Kilkerrin/Clonberne man hit 0-9 and Cillian McDaid notched 0-4 from play and Galway still lost.
The scoring burden needs to be shared more evenly across the team this weekend, and the 1-05 from play from Conroy, McHugh and Silke against Donegal validated that statement.
However, it is difficult to see how Galway will put enough scores on the board to beat Armagh unless either Walsh or Comer, or better still both of them can have a significant influence on proceedings.
Curtail Rian O’ Neill’s influence
Every team has a talisman.
A player who if he or she hits the highs can really lift the entire team.
When the going is particularly tough, this player can do something magical to inspire drooping spirits. When their teammates see what they can do – it inspires them to follow them over the winning line.
When leaders are required, the talisman will often step forward and point the way (literally ) for their team and bring a team from possible defeat to victory.
Think Joe Cooney for Galway in the 1987 and 1988 successes.
Think Maurice Fitzgerald against Mayo in the 1997 All-Ireland final.
Think Ja Fallon’s three glorious points in the second half in the 1998 final for Galway – and Michael Donnellan’s sublime first half.
Think Padraic Joyce’s ten points (nine in the second half ) against Meath in the ’01 final.
Think Joe Canning against Tipperary in the 2017 All-Ireland semi-final.
Think James McCarthy, Bryan Fenton, Con O’ Callaghan, Ciarán Kilkenny, Jack McCaffery at various times in their six-in-a-row run of All-Ireland final wins.
Think David Clifford for Kerry in the 2022 final.
Think Cillian McDaid in the second half against Dublin this year. His three majestic points inspired Galway and lanced Dublin’s aspirations.
Think Tony Kelly’s astonishing goal and some of his sublime points last weekend to power Clare to being All-Ireland hurling champions for 2024.
Rian O’ Neill is that player for Armagh.
His teammates and the Armagh supporters look to O’ Neill to do something special.
To find a way. He did so against Kerry.
If he is nullified, it would be a huge blow to the Armagh belief system.
Rian is from very good footballing stock.
His father Gareth played with both Louth and Armagh, while his uncle on his mother’s side is the legendary Oisín McConville. His brother, Oisín O’Neill is also an impact sub for Kieran McGeeney and will probably see action this weekend.
Whether Galway decide to do a man-marking job on O’Neill remains to be seen, however, his influence needs to be curtailed.
He drifts between centre-forward and midfield and that makes him difficult to counteract – however, if Galway can reduce his influence and keep him on a tight rein, their chances of ultimate success soars.
