Battle-hardened Galway living on the edge
GALWAY VIEW
BILLY COSS
MAYO, Dublin, Derry, Armagh and Down have all gone toe-to-toe with Galway down the stretch in this year's championship. Battle-hardened and living dangerously on the edge, perhaps in equal measure, Padraic Joyce's side have become the great survivors in this most open of All-Ireland races with defeat avoided on all but one occasion.
Meath look primed to test their mettle again on Sunday afternoon in what has the makings of a sixth high-octane encounter in just nine weekends for the Tribesmen dating back to the Connacht final in early May.
Is it inevitable that energy levels will dip in Croke Park against the rested Royals? Or will Galway retain their hard-earned momentum and continue a third serious tilt at the ultimate prize in four seasons?
Last year's campaign ended without Sam Maguire but brought All-Stars in defence, midfield and attack as Johnny McGrath, Dylan McHugh, Footballer of the Year Paul Conroy, John Maher and Rob Finnerty were all selected. 2022 winners Liam Silke, John Daly, Cillian McDaid, Damien Comer and Shane Walsh took that number of individual awards up to 10 on last weekend's matchday panel in Down.
Add Matthew Thompson's meteoric rise from a promising u-20 in 2024 to the orchestrator of their attack at senior level in '25 - as well as Peter Cooke's return from Stateside - and Galway appear locked and loaded entering the business end.
Joyce’s term as Galway boss was extended last winter until 2026. Mickey Graham's decision to replace the outgoing Cian O'Neill as coach came with controversy after the Cavan native initially took up the Leitrim manager's post. Adding David Morris, a major pillar of Corofin's unmatched club success, was a shrewd move. John Concannon, John Divilly and Micheál Ó Domhnaill continued in their roles.
That's vast experience at every turn but several legitimate question marks remain entering this weekend, leaving aside those that concern the potential toll from recent battles.
The optimism that surrounded Walsh's return to something close to his best form against Armagh and Down - 1-16 clocked up in those two outings - has been tempered by a shoulder injury sustained shortly before half-time against the Mourne men. It threatens his involvement and leaves a cloud over Galway's scoring output, even if Rob Finnerty's steady accumulation of 3-37, 3-27 from play, has come with consistency.
Another major talking point surrounds goalkeeping selection. Conor Flaherty's uncertain second half spell off the tee in the Marshes - one that had Joyce beckoning Connor Gleeson before eventually deciding against a substitution - gives management a call to make. Who they give the nod to kick out to Céin D'Arcy, Conroy, Maher and co is their biggest ahead of Sunday.
A potential wild card is Damien Comer. The sight of the former captain going through his fitness work in Páirc Esler after being unused means his return could well materialise. Galway have been getting a tune from their bench in the recent matches too with Tomo Culhane, Daniel O'Flaherty and Cooke leading the way with crucial plays and scores after being introduced in Down.
Their attempt to go one better after last July's gut-wrenching defeat to Armagh and a winter of deep regret will be put to the test this weekend when they return to Jones' Road. A revitalised and curiously still underrated Meath - despite victories over Dublin and Kerry - lie in wait.
It's all set up for another classic in the season that just keeps on giving.