Inside Track with John McIntyre

REFLECTING on the year almost past, Galway’s reputation as the most successful sporting county in Ireland continues to be well-founded, despite neither of the Tribesmen’s flagship GAA teams even reaching the All-Ireland championship semi-finals.

Having been defeated finalists twice over the previous three seasons, there was genuine belief that the Galway footballers could go that important step further in 2025 and when Padraic Joyce’s team captured a fourth Connacht title on the trot, it should have set them up for another major crack at Sam Maguire.

But defeat to Dublin on home turf in the first round of the qualifiers immediately put them under pressure, and they diced with crashing out of the championship only for a brace of late Matthew Tierney goals earning them a draw away to Derry in their next round-robin outing.

Galway then renewed rivalry with Armagh in a repeat of the 2024 All-Ireland Final at Breffni Park. It was another edge-of-the-seat thriller with Shane Walsh snatching the verdict from a free with the last kick of the game. Next up was another trip up North, this time against Down in Newry, and again, it was high-wire stuff.

Down scored 3-21 in a free-flowing, high scoring battle but Galway (2-26) just did enough to take the spoils. Tomo Culhane smashed home the decisive goal on a day Salthill teammates Matthew Thompson, John Maher and Rob Finnerty were all to the fore.

The net result of Galway’s up-and-down qualifier campaign was that they had to take the long way round to the All-Ireland Final. A preliminary quarter-final against resurgent Meath followed and though the Tribesmen continued to struggle for fluency, they were still expected to overcome the Royals.

Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way despite an unanswered burst of 2-3 in the closing quarter leaving them in pole position to carry the day. Instead, Meath finished in a blaze of glory with Jordan Morris continuing to torment the Connacht champions. Post-match, the Galway management shipped criticism for not starting either Paul Conroy or goal-scorer Cillian McDaid.

What will 2026 bring? Surely, Galway must finally get to grips with Damien Comer’s ongoing injury woes, while the addition of former Galway United player Darragh Sheridan as Performance Coach might freshen things up. Former inter-county defender John Divilly had stepped down as a coach. It’s a big year for Joyce and, frankly, it’s an All-Ireland or nothing.

Pictured: Loughrea players Tiernan Killeen and Kieran Hanrahan celebrate after defeating Slaughtneil of Derry in the All-Ireland Club hurling semi-final at Parnell Park on Sunday. Photo: Seb Daly/ Sportsfile.