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Joyce makes no secret of his aim to end Galway’s long barren run in competition

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From this week's Galway City Tribune

From this week's Galway City Tribune

Joyce makes no secret of his aim to end Galway’s long barren run in competition Joyce makes no secret of his aim to end Galway’s long barren run in competition

WITH two league points safely tucked away in the back pocket, the Galway footballers will head up the road to Castlebar on Sunday keen to build on a positive opening result and perhaps lay the foundation for a tilt at a first Division 1 league title since 1981, although manager Padraic Joyce acknowledged the reality of the situation after the win over Armagh.

“To win it would be great. We haven’t won it in so many years. But then you’re looking at the winners in the last couple of years and you’re kind of wondering if you want to win it with the way they finished up in the Championship and that kind of stuff,” Joyce stated.

“Look, we’re going out first of all to try and get six points and be safe. I think every team tries to win two of the first three games and then see where you’re at. We’re in New York the week after the league final. But we have 40 players training as well so we’re not going to hold back in the league. We’re going to go at it and if we end up in a final, we’ll try to win it and take it from there.

“If we do have a poor championship, it won’t be because the league was so successful. Division 1 at the minute is hugely competitive. We’re going to get seven brilliant games to figure out where the Cillian Ó Curraoins of this world, the Danny O’Flahertys, Seán Fitz(gerald)s, the Johnny McGraths and these fellas are at. It’s great.”

Mayo fell to a two-point defeat away to Dublin in round one last weekend, with Kevin McStay’s starting line-up containing just six of the side that lined out for their last championship match. Once again they had issues with converting chances, especially from distance, something which Galway were far more adept at on Saturday night under the lights and Joyce was pleased with aspects of his side’s play while they come to terms with the new playing rules..

“The work-rate from the lads was brilliant,” Joyce said. “The effort everyone put in was great. We tackled really hard and we worked really hard. We’ve been trying to build that work ethic into the squad. We would have been seen as probably a nice team to play against but I think a lot of lads worked really, really hard. You take Danny O’Flaherty, I thought he was exceptional at corner-back. A new position for him, great pace. Seán Fitz was outstanding at full-back.

“Our seasoned players played really well as well. When you can bring the likes of John Maher, Liam Silke, Shane Walsh, Kieran Molloy and Johnny Heaney off the bench, it’s great to be building a squad. I wouldn’t be overly happy with the way we started the game but obviously we grew into it after 17, 18 minutes. I think the penalty was a big turning point to get us back into the game. To go in at half-time two up after not playing overly well was great.

“It was difficult for both teams to get used to the new rules, it was the first real game, I think it will take two or three games before we kind of know where we are at with them. The two-point score is a big thing. I think people probably expected way more of a fast-paced game but unfortunately the conditions didn’t help and the pitch didn’t help.”

Regardless of the circumstances, beating the team who had inflicted such heartache on the group in Croke Park last July must have provided the player’s with some element of satisfaction, but for Cillian O Curraoin revenge was never part of their thoughts in the run up to the game and he revealed his own excitement at the introduction of the new rules.

“I suppose we weren’t going to avenge anything, O Curraoin admitted. “We really just wanted to start off the league with two points. Mayo next now. We weren’t planning on avenging anything or getting revenge or anything. That wasn’t our focus in the game. We worked hard throughout November, December and January. And we’re here now, we got the win and the first two points.

“For an inside-forward, the new rules are unbelievable. I was looking forward to it for a long, long time. I went up and I watched the interpros and I was really licking my lips. So, it was great to just come out in front of a crowd and just play. It’s great. Enjoyed it, everyone did.

“I suppose we played to the elements in the second half. In the first half, we really focused on getting the two points, getting the two points, instead of bringing it in. There’s this kind of pocket in the ‘D’ that we weren’t using. Armagh were pressing out and we were taking on crazy shots – including one I took myself. But in the second half, we played the elements. We were bringing it in, bringing it out, worked the scores, got it to the kickers. That was the difference in the end, I suppose.”

Currently one of many intercounty players sampling both the new and the old set of rules while playing in the league and Sigerson Cup, O Curraoin admitted it has been an interesting few weeks while also agreeing that the new two-point opportunities could be to Galway’s benefit.

“I was actually saying to one of the lads today that we went from the old rules Wednesday night to the new rules today. Even the last few weeks of Sigerson, we were going from the old rules to the new rules. It’s a massive contrast. You’d love coming back to Galway training sometimes, you’re so frustrated playing Sigerson because of the old rules. Great contrast.

“We’re blessed with kickers in Galway and we always were. I suppose the last few years with blanket defences it was hard to use kickers, it was hard to use skilful players. But I think this is a really good chance for the likes of Paul Conroy, for the likes of Shane Walsh, any other forward in that dressing-room to really express themselves and use that two-point arc.”

Pictured: Galway midfielder Paul Conroy in possession against Armagh’s Jason Duffy during Saturday’s National Football League encounter at Pearse Stadium. Photos: Joe O’Shaugnessy.

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