After watching Sunday’s thrilling Ulster final, Padraic Joyce finally knows Galway's opponents in the third match of the round-robin series.
Armagh’s loss on penalties means Galway's neutral game of the round-robin series will be a rematch of 2022’s exciting All Ireland quarter-final against Kieran McGeeney’s men.
Galway’s group comprises Tyrone, Westmeath, and Armagh, with the first game against the 2021 champions Tyrone. They travel to Pearse Stadium on Saturday in yet another match that will be streamed on the controversial GAAgo site. Both of Saturday’s most anticipated games, Kerry v Mayo at 3pm in Fitzgerald Stadium, and Galway’s game at 5.15pm, will be on the site.
In this phase of the championship, only the team which finishes fourth in the group will be knocked out. Once the three games have been played, the team topping the group will be in the All-Ireland quarter-final, and after that, the second-placed team from one group will play the third-placed team in a different group in a preliminary quarter-final.
Since winning Sam Maguire in 2021, Tyrone have been very disappointing. After narrowly avoiding relegation in the league, followed by an early championship exit in 2022, they finished fourth in the league, but once again they had an early exit in the Ulster championship at the hands of Monaghan.
With forwards such as Darren McCurry and the Canavan brothers, playing against Tyrone will never be an easy task for any team. Galway’s defensive setup must be tight and tenacious, while their attacking unit must be swift and efficient.
The devastating effect that Matthew Tierney had in the Connacht final win will be needed by all six forwards if Galway are to be sure to win this game. Ian Burke is a man Tyrone must manage effectively if he is to have a minimal contribution to the game. Tyrone’s biggest problem here is how can they nullify Burke, Walsh, Comer, Tierney, Heaney and Finnerty without neglecting any of the before mentioned.
Galway have been extremely diligent in their defensive duties all year, but the biggest strength they have is the forward unit in which there is no weak link.
Heading into the round-robin series Tyrone have nothing to lose and that is sure to be a frightening prospect for all teams involved in this group. The Ulster side is expected by many to come behind both Galway and Armagh, but to make the preliminary quarter-final if they overcome Westmeath. However, this is still a side that was crowned All-Ireland champions less than two years ago. Brian Dooher, Fergal Lohan and the management team have improved their form significantly since their poor start to the league and they were unlucky to lose to Monaghan’s last-minute goal in the Ulster quarter final.
However, Galway are rightly favourites for this game, but still face a huge challenge if they are to continue their current fabulous run of form.
