Shane Walsh used to dream of chances like late free vs Armagh so when the moment came, he kept hopes alive
SHANE WALSH admits that kicking the winner against Armagh was the stuff of dreams.
Sleepy Galway
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His performance wasn't all good on the day
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But he delivered when his county needed him most
Pádraic Joyce's men were heading out of the Championship after dozing off early and falling nine points behind the All-Ireland champions.
But with alarm bells going off in the dressing room at half-time, they decided to rise and shine after the break.
Stung by fears that when you snooze, you lose, goals from John Maher and Rob Finnerty awoke the beast.
It was not exactly a nightmare for Armagh, who were already through to the next round after two wins.
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But after their epic fightback, Galway still needed their star man to deliver victory to guarantee their own progress to the preliminary quarter-final.
And when Walsh — who kicked a total of 0-9 — stood over a free after the hooter had sounded, he harked back to his younger self, when being in this position was something he could only dream about.
His effort sailed over the bar, vindicating his team-mates' urgings to back himself when it matters most.
Walsh said: 'The last kick of the game, as I said to myself, 'You dream of those opportunities, so just commit to it'. Whatever happens, back your ability, and thankfully it curled in.
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'I probably hadn't that in the last couple of weeks, but in fairness to the group, we had good conversations last Tuesday week and they were just talking to me about backing myself more.
'You mightn't score every shot but we're backing you to take our shots as well. That stood to me as well in the first half because there were things that didn't go well and shots that did go well.
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'You have to keep hammering away at it. You can review the game afterwards, let's just focus on the next ball, keep on seeing where you can get the next chance.
'It's down to the lads running balls into good positions for me and letting me do my thing as well.
"There's lads there that do different jobs for the team. There's lads that go up and down that field all day, that I don't be doing.
'I'm there to help out in getting scores for the team. So, when the lads give you that backing, and Pádraic gives you that backing, it's huge.'
Galway's campaign looked over when Armagh surged nine ahead and the Tribe squandered two first-half penalties.
Ethan Rafferty saved Matthew Tierney's effort before Rob Finnerty blazed over to leave their summer hanging by a thread.
But boss Joyce read the riot act at half-time, and the players delivered with a storming second-half performance to steal third place in the group of death.
JOYCE'S STATUS
Joyce was a Galway icon as a player and starred when they won the 1998 and 2001 All-Ireland titles.
The Tribe have reached two finals under his watch, but fell short against Kerry in 2022 before Armagh pipped them last year.
And Walsh hailed his manager for keeping the dream alive.
The forward said: 'I think it starts with the man that's heading everything. He is a winner through and through.
"It really shone out in the last two weeks, just how much a winner he is and how much pride he has in himself and in Galway.
'It kind of shone through on to the players and we were able to feed off that then. You couldn't but feed off it.
'When he comes in to really lift the place and tells you how good you are, tells you how good things are, that really gets you going.
'We believe in Pádraic, he believes in us. When you get that bond together, it means you'll go until the last second.'
START SOMETHING
Galway were backed into a corner ahead of Saturday's win after losses to Dublin and a battling draw against Derry left them dangling by a thread.
Walsh now hopes the win can spark another run to the biggest day of all, as they bid to end a 24-year wait for Sam.
He said: 'Probably in the last couple of weeks we were in our shell a bit with the Dublin and Derry games. After that we said, 'Our Championship is on the line'.
'Everyone, to a man, was encouraging each other to give this a right go, and it stands to you.
'When those lads are saying it to you, and even though you might say it's something simple, but those words of encouragement, they go a long way in a group.'
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