Padraic Joyce and his team travel to the Athletic Grounds in Armagh on Saturday evening for a rematch of 2022’s game of the year.
A win will guarantee Galway a position in division one for 2024 and put them on the cusp of a league final. A loss could mean Galway will need at least a point in their final game against Kerry a week later to ensure division one safety.
In the tightest and most competitive of leagues for a long time and with five rounds played and just two left, only Mayo are safe from relegation, while the other seven teams could still go down.
Saturday's is a rematch of an incredible game last year, and it is unfortunate many will not travel for a game that throws in at 5pm - the same time Ireland play England in the Six Nations with high hopes of winning their first Grand Slam on Irish soil. Both games are live on television, but it will partially affect the viewership both games deserve.
The return of Shane Walsh off the bench in round four against Monaghan, plus an extra two weeks training, is a massive boost for Galway’s chances against McGeeney’s men.
Walsh may have failed to get in the score sheet in Pearse Stadium during his cameo appearance, but his presence alone caused massive issues for the Farney defence, which left gaps from which his teammates prospered.
Armagh are sure to provide long direct ball again this year after the tactic caused problems in last year's All-Ireland quarter final, leading to all three of their goals. However, Connor Gleeson has so far impressed in goal for Galway this season. He has been more commanding and strong under any high ball that has come in, while his kick outs have continually improved since his debut in 2020.
This game, however, will really test his credentials again, and another performance similar to those he has produced so far in 2023 will further cement his place as Galway’s number one.
Galway’s defence has been notably mean in the league. Opposition teams have been kicking plenty of wides, while they have also been under severe pressure and forced to taking low percentage shots, showing the effect Cian O’Neill’s structure has brought to what was a quite open defence. This has been a huge boost for Joyce and his management team, considering they have lost the services of Kieran Molloy and Liam Silke from the team that performed so well last year.
Also Neil Mulcahy had impressed in his debut campaign up until his required surgery, which has delayed him from cementing a place in the team.
Further up the field Galway have an abundance of talent that has started to click, and with Walsh’s spark having returned, and Damien Comer nearing a return, it can only continue to improve.
The Athletic Grounds is by no means an easy place to which to travel, and with the hostile reception the Galway players are sure to receive, this game could tell an awful lot about the credentials of both sides in this year's race for Sam.
Kelly makes team of the year
In a team dominated by All-Ireland club champions Kilmacud Crokes, one Galway club player has made it into this year’s AIB GAA Club football team of the year.
Unsurprisingly it is Moycullen’s Sean Kelly, who is named in wing forward position, while Galway and Kilmacud’s corner-forward Shane Walsh also made this year's team.
The Footballer of the Year is Shane Cunningham of Crokes, while the Hurler of the Year is Joey Holden of Kilkenny’s Ballyhale Shamrocks. No Galway hurlers are on this year’s selection, which is dominated by Ballyhale, Dunloy, and Ballygunner.
AIB GAA CLUB FOOTBALL TEAM OF THE YEAR: Conor Ferris (Kilmacud Crokes ), Michael Warnock (Watty Graham’s Glen ), Ryan Dougan (Watty Graham’s Glen ), Dan O’Brien (Kilmacud Crokes ), Andrew McGowan (Kilmacud Crokes ), Rory O’Carroll (Kilmacud Crokes ), Ethan Doherty (Watty Graham’s Glen ), David Moran (Kerins O’Rahilly’s ), Emmett Bradley (Watty Graham’s Glen ), Jack Doherty (Watty Graham’s Glen ), Shane Cunningham (Kilmacud Crokes ), Seán Kelly (Moycullen ), Dara Mullin (Kilmacud Crokes ), Danny Tallon (Watty Graham’s Glen ), Shane Walsh (Kilmacud Crokes ).
AIB GAA ClUB HURLING TEAM OF THE YEAR: Stephen O’Keeffe (Ballygunner ), Killian Corcoran (Ballyhale Shamrocks ), Joey Holden (Ballyhale Shamrocks ), Ryan McGarry, (Dunloy ) Kevin Molloy (Dunloy ), Richie Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks ), Darragh Corcoran (Ballyhale Shamrocks ), Conor Sheehan (Ballygunner ), Adrian Mullen (Ballyhale Shamrocks ), Eoin Cody(Ballyhale Shamrocks ), TJ Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks ), Pauric Mahony (Ballygunner ), Colin Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks ).
St Thomas’ star Aine Keane is the sole Galway camogie players on the 2023 Electric Ireland Camogie Third Level Rising Stars Team of the Year. Keane, and Waterford's Kate Lynch are the two University of Limerick representatives on the team dominated by Ashbourne Cup champions TU Dublin with five players.
