Having spent a few fleeting days in Spain, I had the opportunity to witness the final match of hurling. The event was astonishing to the point where it’s hard to believe that this week’s conversation revolves around football. Ideally, such a match needs to be lingered over, enjoyed and revisited in the mind repeatedly, discussing every little detail, akin to sipping a fine wine.
However, the football final has already taken precedence. Yesterday, perusing through various newspapers, I spotted articles with Rory Grugan of Armagh and Rob Finnerty of Galway – no disrespect intended, but I found myself thinking, “Could we not hold off the football conversation a tad longer?”
We are always in hurry, rushing to prepare ourselves before Coldplay arrives. When both finals clash within a week, it’s as if they are merely regular matches noted in the calendar. It should never be like this for an All-Ireland final, regardless if it’s football or hurling.
Looking forward to Galway v Armagh, with both teams well-acquainted of each other’s prowess. Crucially, they have a solid understanding of their own capabilities. I anticipate a challenging clash, as both teams have proven their fitness to endure such. Inevitably, it’s going to be a nail-biter – little things could have a significant impact on the results.
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I’d assume many would have been tuned into the hurling last Sunday, regardless of their interest, passing it up would have been a folly. In the week leading up to an All-Ireland football final, one has the unusual luxury to watch a dress rehearsal, becoming acutely aware of the crowd’s influence, understanding the slow passage of time in the preliminary stages.
Above all, you have the opportunity to gauge the pitch’s performance. Numerous Cork and Clare players slipped on Sunday, but where on the pitch did this occur? What kind of actions were they executing when this happened? The only way to gather this kind of information is to observe a full-paced game. Despite thoroughly testing the pitch during the warm-up, the conditions can still feel markedly different once the match has commenced.
Both Galway and Armagh are entering this final having ticked off numerous milestones. They both have an imposing physical presence, as exemplified when Armagh outmatched Kerry in size and strength during the parade. This element is vital. However, Galway’s forward line consisting of Matthew Tierney, John Maher, and Cillian McDaid is more than capable of holding their own.
Both teams also have an impressive record behind them. There have been periods during the season where external observers might have assumed that both teams were faltering. Galway faced a tough battle against Sligo and barely edged past Mayo. Armagh, despite having the potential to win both, lost a league final and an Ulster final.
There are now two teams approaching the final, each having faced rigorous trials along the way. They have the self-belief of having endured it all. As they hold their final team meeting on Saturday night, there will be no room for doubt in either squad that they can secure the All-Ireland title the subsequent day. They are fully aware that this opportunity is within their grasp.
In this respect, I believe Galway holds a minor edge, having experienced a final loss two years ago. Armagh can attribute their heartbreak to losing multiple penalty shootouts, among other things. However, these occurred in Ulster finals and All-Ireland quarterfinals. These events would have been difficult at the time, but nothing compares to the pain of losing an All-Ireland final.
One lingering regret in my professional life has been the unfortunate loss of the An Ghaeltacht team in the All-Ireland club final in 2004. The anguish of this defeat at Croke Park against Caltra was palpable and it lingered for an extended period. The anticipation of starting from scratch in the following season was disheartening due to the grueling road ahead.
This forlorn feeling was clearly etched on Jim McGuinness’s face when Donegal was defeated by Galway in the semi-finals. With his extensive experience, McGuinness understands that getting to the final isn’t as easy as finding a golden ticket in a pack of cereals. He also knows that once in the final, the game becomes unpredictable and dynamic.
Prevailing in the final requires intense understanding and preparation, as exemplified by Galway. Two years ago, not only did they reach the final, they also put forth a spirited performance, matching up to the vigour of Kerry and maintaining parity till the last four minutes. Both Shane Walsh and Cillian McDaid showcased stellar performances in that game.
With their management and the majority of their team intact, they’ll be participants once again in the final, while it’s been nearly two decades since Armagh has had this opportunity. I anticipate this discrepancy in exposure to high-pressure games might be an influential factor.
However, Armagh coach Kieran McGeeney has the perfect counter to that argument. Back in 2002 when he captained an inexperienced Armagh team to face us, they showed nerves of steel and won the Sam Maguire Cup, marking their first ever win. He’ll unlikely allow his squad to use their lack of experience as a justification for underperformance.
Armagh has shown potential as a formidable team for some time now. With players such as Rian O’Neill demonstrating exceptional form against Kerry, if he retains the same performance level on Sunday, Armagh has nothing to worry about. The prospect of them being All-Ireland champions is indisputable.
My intuition leads me to favour Galway. Pádraic Joyce has effectively managed his squad throughout the season. They’ve arrived at this point. Everyone is giving it their all; no one is holding back for the future. There’s no attempt to merely squeeze out 45 minutes from Walsh, Damien Comer, or Seán Kelly and hope it works out. It’s now all or nothing, and I foresee all Joyce wanted since 2024 commenced was to usher his team to the starting point of a finale and set them loose.
Galway’s victory margin will probably be slight, but I’m inclined to believe they’ll cross the finish line first.