When Galway took on Tyrone in Tuam Stadium in the first round of the league on January 28 they were joint favourites with Kildare to be relegated from division one.
Nine weeks later, the Lily Whites have suffered that fate, but Kevin Walsh's Tribe is the only unbeaten side after seven league games, and they are facing into a league final this Sunday.
Team manager Walsh is pleased with the progress the Galway squad has made since the start of the year.
"Everything we do every week at training and in games is about trying to improve for the future," he says. "We always try to focus on improving our matchday performances and that will be no different this weekend either.
"It was great to be in the league final with two games in hand. That has allowed us to move guys around, rest some lads, and give some solid game time to as many players as possible and still maintain our momentum. We have done that, which is a real postitive, and we are looking forward to the challenge Dublin pose on Sunday."
Last weekend Galway gave starting slots to Evan Wynne, Eoin Finnerty and Padraic Cunningham and also gave more game time to Adrian Varley, Ciarán Duggan, Cein D'Arcy. It was also good to see Michael Daly back in the county colours.
"Our panel is definitely improving," says Walsh. "We have used well over 25 players during the seven league games which is a real positive. We take every game on its own merits and the league final will be no different.
"Dublin are All-Ireland champions and are a very good team as everyone acknowledges. However, we are going to Croke Park focusing on our own performance and looking to our squad to produce a really competitive and solid display.
"We will be asking our starting guys to give it their all for as long as they can, and then we have five or six other players to come in and make a real impact too.
"That is the beauty of having a really strong and competitive panel all working hard for the same goal. We are genuinely pleased with how our squad is progressing. Next Sunday is just another step on that journey."
