By JOHN FALLON

THERE was an interesting observation in the build-up to the All-Ireland final when Pádraic Joyce downplayed Galway’s appearance in the decider two years ago in terms of having an advantage over an Armagh team who hadn’t been in one for over two decades.

Yeah, sure, it helps regarding all the furore over tickets, the hype, the surge in support throughout the county and all the logistical stuff. But defeats in All-Ireland finals inevitably mean bad experiences, the sort of stuff that can haunt a person or a team.

Two years ago there was a celebratory tone to the homecoming in Pearse Stadium despite the loss to Kerry. The general feeling was that there were good times ahead. The county were back in an All-Ireland football final for the first time in over two decades and had gone toe-to-toe with a very good Kerry side.

We even had a controversial refereeing decision towards the end when it was all square to hang the disappointment on. And we had Shane Walsh’s performance to savour, one of the best ever by a player in an All-Ireland final.

Galway and Walsh played that day against Kerry as if there was nobody watching. On Sunday, they seemed stifled by the eyes of expectation on them. It was as if they were afraid to go for it, weighed down by the bad taste of defeat two years earlier.

It didn’t help that Armagh had 15 men inside their half when they hadn’t the ball, but the endless passing back and forth across the field had all the hallmarks of a team afraid to lose. The fear of doing something wrong seemed to stifle them. It will wreck their heads for the winter if they allow it.

The atmosphere for the homecoming on Monday night was respectful and full of sympathy from the few thousand who bothered to turn up in Tuam Stadium and Pearse Stadium. But it had a funereal tone this time.

Pictured: GAME CHANGER: Aaron McKay of Armagh scores the only goal of Sunday’s All-Ireland Football Final at Croke Park despite the best efforts of Galway goalkeeper Connor Gleeson. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile.