After an incredible year for Galway GAA, Padraic Joyce’s men fell just short at the finishing line losing by a single point to Armagh, 1-11 to 0-13.
Yes, Galway had their chances, and to convert just 13/25 scoring chances won’t win a team an All-Ireland final. But the transformation of this side from the hugely disappointing performance in the opening round of the league to All-Ireland finalists was immense.
Huge credit must go to everybody involved. How players persevered through injuries and then regrouped to survive what looked like a doomed league campaign just shows the grit and determination that has been instilled in these players by their management team.
Things could have worked out much differently for the Tribesmen in a game that never fully caught fire, even after Armagh’s well worked goal. Losing Rob Finnerty to injury inside the first 10 minutes was a killer blow. When all around him have struggled with injuries this season, the Salthill/Knocknacarra man stood tall to average over four points a game to continually help his side over the line.
Shane Walsh missed four frees, all of which were probably just outside his range considering the knocks he was carrying into the game. Damien Comer was double marked and found it incredibly difficult to get into the game at all. Céin D’Arcy repaid the faith that has been shown in him by kicking three fantastic points, while Paul Conroy defied his age and showed that he still has plenty to give his county by also kicking three from play.
The defensive set up of both sides contrasted the free flowing football of 2022's final. Armagh scored a brilliant goal, catching Galway off guard and loose at the back, something that hasn’t really happened this year - but their work rate and the pressure they put Galway under after the goal was impressive. They prevented any sort of a spark within the Galway forward unit, and after 10 years at the helm Kieran McGeeney has finally brought his county back to the promised land.
Connor Gleeson had by far his best season for Galway. The young full back line of Johnny McGrath, Seán Fitzgerald and Jack Glynn played like men with many years of experience, and stopped the Armagh full forward line from contributing to the scoreboard. Dylan McHugh was extremely unlucky to hit the post in the final minute, but is a shoe-in for an all star and should deservedly be, at least, nominated for footballer of the year.
Liam Silke kept Rian O’Neill to just a point while popping up with another one himself. And how encouraging it was to see Seán Mulkerrin back on the pitch and playing as well as he has all year. Furthermore, Johnny Maher put in another Trojan performance.
Galway started without their captain, but when introduced Seán Kelly lifted his side. After struggling with injury for well over a year he showed what a warrior he is by just making it onto the field.
Galway football was suffering badly when Kevin Walsh was named as manager in 2015. He improved the side, made them hard to beat and in 2018 brought Galway to their first All-Ireland semi-final in 17 years. Padraic Joyce’s announcement as Galway manager in late 2019 has quite simply brought Galway to another level again.
Joyce and his management team of Cian O’Neill, John Divilly and John Concannon, as well as all the backroom team have brought Galway right back to the top table of football. Winning three Connacht titles in a row and getting to two All-Ireland finals in three years shows just what a great job they have done.
The management along with all the players will regroup and go again in 2025 knowing how close they were - and the potential of the players on the fringes of the squad is sure to drive them on to brighter days.
It’s the hope however, that kills us.
