Inside Track with John McIntyre

Padraic Joyce mightn’t admit it publicly, but Saturday’s last-gasp Division 1 victory over familiar foes Armagh at the Athletic Grounds must have been one of the most satisfying since he took over as manager of the Galway footballers in October of 2019.

Given the run of the match, most other elite teams would have departed Armagh with nothing to show for their efforts, but Galway have developed a defiant mentality under Joyce’s tenure and are becoming quite efficient in seemingly rescuing lost causes.

The Tribesmen almost did it the previous Sunday against Mayo, and there were times in the clash with Armagh when the hosts threatened to overrun the Connacht champions, but Galway found a way to pull the match out of the fire in reviving their league hopes.

Armagh may have beaten Galway in the 2024 All-Ireland Final – yes, I know of the counties’ many recent clashes that was the one which overshadowed all others – but Dylan McHugh and company have had the Orchard men’s number since. Saturday’s contest was another barnstorming battle and Galway’s ability to find the net ultimately proved decisive.

Given that they didn’t manage a single two-pointer, Galway needed their goals badly and all came at critical junctures. They tend to go for the jugular when opportunities arise unlike Armagh who were content to take their points when players were bearing down on the opposition posts.

How many of their seven fisted points would have ended up as goals in Galway’s hands? That was the difference between the teams. The men in maroon were more ruthless, with Kieran Molloy and substitute Matthew Tierney finishing off penetrating moves which unlocked the Armagh cover.

It wasn’t a good evening for their goalkeeper Blaine Hughes, who might have stopped Molloy’s first half effort, while he made a hames of dealing with Finnerty’s free which fortunately found the net in the 31st minute. That score came with no shortage of controversy, however.

The Armagh sideline was incensed when they were penalised for a breach of the new rules – in this case for not having four players inside their own half – after defender Joe McElroy approached his management to signal that he was injured. In the spirit of the rule, it was a harsh call by match officials, especially in the context of Finnerty’s 50-yard effort unexpectedly raising a green flag.

Pictured: Galway defender Jack Glynn breaking away from Armagh’s Andrew Murnin during Saturday’s Division 1 football clash at the Athletic Grounds. Photo: Ray McManus/Sportsfile.