Galway boss Padraic Joyce: ‘Armagh are so resilient. They will stay going to the bitter end’

Though down the list of prospective All-Ireland winners for most pundits, the Sam Maguire Cup winners of 2001 and '02 are now the last men standing and in contention to end waits of more than two decades.

Billy Coss from the Tuam Herald Sport spoke to the Galway manager Padraic Joyce, now in his fifth season in charge, at the county's pre-final press event in Pearse Stadium last Thursday.

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On his links with Armagh’s players and management in the early 2000s:

“They are quality, quality lads. I remember Kieran [McGeeney] and Paul McGrane, I think it was the morning we were heading out to Australia [for an International Rules trip]. They were leaving the gym and we were just trying to get ready from a night before! They were very professional when they played, Kieran and the lads.

“I'd be close enough friends with Kieran at the minute. I would have had a couple of conversations with him over the years as regards tactics and stuff. I'd have good time for him and huge respect for him and the job he is doing. Bit similar to ourselves. He played for his county and is trying to put as much as he can back into it. I was involved then with Joe [Kernan, International Rules manager] as a player and selector as well.”

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On the takeaways from Armagh’s semi-final win over Kerry:

“When Kerry were four up, they missed a goal chance. Well, people say they missed a goal chance, but in our eyes, Armagh denied them the goal chance more so.

“That's one big quality Armagh have, they'll stay going to the bitter end and that's probably coming through Kieran as a manager. They are so resilient, they'll stick at it. Bar Tyrone in the group game last year, I don't think they've been beaten in normal time for maybe two or three years. They've huge resilience.

“Once the game went to extra-time, you just knew that there was only going to be one winner in Armagh. The way they played, and their bench made huge impact.”

On the strength of Armagh’s substitutes bench:

“They've a lot of punch on the bench. No more than ourselves, we have huge impact off our bench in the last couple of games as well. It will be a real battle with Armagh. Obviously, it's a win each and one draw in there, so it's very hard to separate both teams [in last three meetings].

“We'll be confident [of winning] and Armagh will be as confident of beating us. It's going to be a great occasion. There was huge support from Galway there the last day [against Donegal]. One of the best supports I've ever seen to a Galway game in my time, to be honest.

“Armagh will bring great colour as well. So, it's going to be a massive, massive occasion. It's going to be a big tactical battle as well. I think the team that makes the least mistakes on the day is going to be successful.”

On Galway winning tight matches in 2024, compared to teams in the latter stages of his career losing narrowly:

“I think over the years there's been a soft centre to us. Teams would target Galway, I don't think teams were afraid of playing Galway over the years. They'd say get them down the track level and they'll wilt, or they'll fold. These boys are different.

“Even against Donegal, I felt comfortable, believe it or not, on the side-line when we were level, that we'd find a way to win it and we did. In the end we got a free in and then Liam Silke got a great score to put us two up. There's a good edge in these fellas which is great. Where it's come from, I'm not going to take credit for it. It's something we try to put into them as coaches with the way they train, the standards they have in training, but again look they're fantastic lads. I can't reference it enough what they can do for all of us when they come into training.

“They all have personal lives, work lives, their families are supporting them. There's a real family culture in us at the minute which is great. That's evident when the games are over. We have some great fun when the games are over. When we've to work hard, we work hard. That's one thing about them, the camaraderie is really good. We'd be very well connected with them as managers and coaches to the players.

“We'd have some great craic but when it's serious, it's serious and we're not afraid to challenge each other and criticise each other and that's what the group is about. They'd have as much knowledge in their heads about how the game should be played as much as I would or Cian O'Neill would, or Scan [John Concannon] would.”

On whether or not it’s possible to enjoy the build-up to a final:

“If you're enjoying it as a manager, you're questioning yourself are you getting distracted or loose? It's great. I see it in my own kids, they're over the moon and can't wait for the game.

“Even driving into Galway today, there's more flags, there's more bunting going up. Everyone is in a good mood.

"You can't even get a cup of coffee without getting ten people stopping you wishing you well, which is great. That's all great.

"All that stuff, you have to enjoy that too. You can't become a hermit either.

“Not that you'll change really, there's a bit more excitement about the place but, as I said earlier, our supporters have really, really got behind us in the last couple of games and it's been brilliant.”

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On key forwards Shane Walsh and Damien Comer’s fitness heading into the game:

“There is nothing lingering. Shane's injury is that fatigue set in and that's where he is at risk. We got 60 minutes off him the last day which was great, and we got Daniel O'Flaherty in instead of him so as to get fresh legs on the pitch.“Damien has obviously missed a lot through injury and it's tough, but mentally, he's been very good to get back and get right. His body is actually good, he just needs to get match sharpness at this stage. After the injury, you try and be training and then if you can't train, it's the match fitness.

“He was definitely struggling against Dublin, there was no doubt about that, but we just felt have him on the pitch, keep him up high near the goal and he still contributed four or five assists in the game to us. The last day against Donegal, he still kept Donegal back and they had to keep an eye on him.

“Every time he got the ball, there was two or three around him. We probably got free other space because of that. He is contributing definitely.”

On captain Sean Kelly’s availability:

“He would have probably been okay the last day [against Donegal] had we needed him. But I just felt we were comfortable enough, we probably didn't need him on the pitch. Definitely he'll get the two weeks training in before the match and he'll be fine. He will definitely play some part.”