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BBC News
10 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Conroy starts for Galway against Down
Last year's Footballer of the Year Paul Conroy returns to start for Galway in their preliminary quarter-final against Down at Pairc replaces Peter Cooke after a strong showing off the bench in the thrilling victory over is also a change in defence as Cian Hernon comes in for Jack Comer is on the bench after missing the Armagh win through injury as Conor Flaherty retains his place between the posts ahead of Connor boss Conor Laverty has made one change to his side after their defeat by Monaghan last Branagan is preferred to Adam Crimmins, who drops to the Ronan Burns; Patrick McCarthy, Peter Fegan Ceilum Doherty; Ryan Magill, Pierce Laverty, Miceal Rooney; Daniel Guinness, Ryan McEvoy; Danny Magill, Odhran Murdock, Eugene Branagan; James Guinness, Pat Havern, John John O'Hare, Ruari McCormick Aaron McClements, Donal Scullion, Eoin McCrickard, Eugene Branagan, Oisin Savage, Caolan Mooney, Finn Murdock, Patrick Brooks, Conor Conor Flaherty; Johnny McGrath, Sean Fitzgerald, Liam Silke; Dylan McHugh, Sean Kelly, Cian Hernon; Paul Conroy, John Maher; Cein Darcy, Matthew Tierney, Cillian McDaid; Rob Finnerty, Shane Walsh, Matthew Connor Gleeson, Jack Glynn, Cathal Sweeney, Sean Mulkerrin, Daniel O'Flaherty, John Daly, Peter Cooke, Kieran Molloy, Tomo Culhane, Johnny Heaney, Damien Comer.
The 42
7 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Sick of the sight of each other: the Armagh v Galway rivalry of the roaring '20s and before
PRIOR TO 2001, Armagh and Galway had never crossed paths in championship football. And yet, the seven meetings they have since has packed in enough controversy, intrigue and high-wire action to be considered one of the greatest rivalries of this century. Here, we take a look at the moments that have defined that rivalry. 2001 Round 3 qualifier, Galway 0-13 Armagh 0-12 In the very first meeting between these counties, held in Croke Park, there were teething troubles for the new backdoor system and GAA infrastructure. Armagh had won the previous two Ulster titles, but had been dethroned this time by Tyrone. After accounting for Monaghan and Down in the backdoor, they felt good about themselves. Falling behind by seven points – a Garda escort that never arrived, along with having to change in a cramped Cusack Stand dressing room had Armagh in a panic, they staged a revival and were seeking an equaliser when Justin McNulty looked up the field to deliver a pass. It was blocked down by the big hands of Michael Donnellan. He then took off on a typical skating run, sending Paul McGrane to the floor with a swivel of the hips before setting up substitute Paul Clancy to kick the winner. Pádraig Joyce evades Armagh's Enda McNulty. INPHO INPHO Galway ended up with Sam Maguire, Joyce kicking ten points in the final. Armagh immediately went about changing the management from the two Brians of Canavan and McAlinden to Big Joe. Sam would winter in Armagh the following year. 2013 Round 3 qualifier, Galway 0-13 Armagh 0-12 An oddly bloodless encounter, but nonetheless scored as a major upset at the time because of the formlines. Galway had taken a tanking from Mayo in Connacht and struggled through tests against Tipperary and Waterford. But a 24th minute goal from Danny Cummins set them on their way. As a matter of interest, Paul Conroy of Galway, along with Armagh's Mark Shields, Aidan Forker, Stefan Campbell, Ethan Rafferty and James Morgan are still trucking along, all these years later. 2015 Round 2 qualifier, Armagh 0-12 Galway 1-12 The 12th of July has been the source of much joy and triumphalism for Orangemen in the north, but not in the Athletic Grounds in 2015. Damien Comer punches a goal. Presseye / Declan Roughan/INPHO Presseye / Declan Roughan/INPHO / Declan Roughan/INPHO Galway secured their first away win in the qualifiers since 2001, 1-12 to 0-12 Advertisement The decisive blow came when David Gough advanced a Galway free – much too far for McGeeney's liking. Paul Conroy took the free but it dropped short and who was there to punch to the net, only Damien Comer. 2022 All-Ireland quarter final, Galway 2-21 Armagh 3-18 (aet, Galway 4-1 penalties) Well, now. After Armagh launched an incredible comeback in normal time, capped by a sensational Rian O'Neill equaliser, the two teams were set for extra-time. Coming off the pitch, Aidan Forker and Damien Comer had words and the situation flared up instantly and desperately. The low point was reached when Tiernan Kelly – injured and not on the matchday squad, appeared to make an apparent eye gouge with Comer. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO 'I think they are scenes we cannot hide behind,' said Oisín McConville on the RTÉ analysis. 'People talk about unsavoury… It's not – it's disgusting.' Pat Spillane then said, 'That was disgraceful, scandalous and shame on all involved.' Both counties were later fined €10,000 for their actions, with Kelly receiving a 24-week ban. Armagh's experience of penalty shootouts is grisly and dreadful, but they must have felt this loss especially keenly. Level at the end of extra-time, Galway won 4-1 on penalties. Shane Walsh, Damien Comer, Rob Finnerty and Matthew Tierney all netted. For Armagh, Rian Neill hit the net while Stefan Campbell shot wide and Conor Turbitt's effort came back off the post. And that wasn't even the end to that day's drama. Afterwards, the assembled media made their way to the lecture room under the Cusack Stand that doubles up as a press room on double-header days. Both managers kept reporters and journalists waiting, but when Kieran McGeeney arrived, just as Pádraic Joyce was, it was inevitable they would be asked questions about the row between both sides that flared up at the end of normal time. As much as McGeeney wasn't in the mood for backing down, neither was the Sidebottom in seeking the Orchard manager to condemn the scenes. It was gripping drama, but ultimately neither backed down. 2023 Group 2 Round Robin, Armagh 0-16 Galway 1-12 One of the early and predictable complaints about the All-Ireland round robin system was that it took something like 7,645 games to eliminate half a team. Something like that. But on the last round of games in 2023, Armagh and Galway found themselves facing each other on neutral ground. Pairc Seán MacDiarmaid in Carrick-on-Shannon got the nod after Croke Park was not available. Naturally, this caused a bit of fallout from fans who felt that the 10,000 capacity stadium would never meet the demand, but in the end, just over 6,000 showed up, a fair few of them feeling the effects of one of the stag and hen capitals of Ireland. "There's a lot of empty vessels out there" Kieran McGeeney addresses Armagh's critics after the win over Galway that has sent them directly into the All-Ireland quarter-finals 📺 Watch the #SundayGame live on @RTE2 & @RTEplayer: #RTEGAA — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 18, 2023 Ethan Rafferty saved a Shane Walsh penalty in the first half but it was the final play in the 79th minute that everyone recalls this game for. From wide on the left wing, Walsh's shot tailed wide and left Armagh as 0-16 to 1-12 winners. That forced Galway into a preliminary quarter-final seven days later where they were only too delighted to meet Mayo, who dumped them out. Armagh went through to a quarter-final proper, where they were beaten by Monaghan. On penalties. 2024 (Take 1) Group 1 Round Robin, Armagh 1-12 Galway 0-15 A brilliant story emerging in the lead-in to last year's All-Ireland final came from the final round robin game between the two. By now Tiernan Kelly was a critical part of the Armagh attack and scored 1-1 but Galway looked the better side for long stretches and, with the Markievicz Park wind at their back for the last fifteen minutes, went into the final stretch five points to the good. The comeback was kick-started by Kelly's goal, which came about by Conor Turbitt intercepting a Conor Gleeson kickout and in the fourth minute of time added, on, Stefan Campbell punched over to secure the draw, and leave Armagh topping the group. A day or two later, a phonecall happened between McGeeney and Joyce, with Joyce warning that, 'We'll meet again in the All-Ireland final.' 2024 (Take 2) All-Ireland final, Armagh 1-11 Galway 0-13 Eventually, Armagh made it to the All-Ireland final. Waiting for them were, inevitably, Galway, togging out for their second All-Ireland final in three years. Of all the six games they have played against each other, this was the most cagey, cautious and nerve-ridden encounter. The greatest illustration of this is how a seagull spent a decent portion of the first half undisturbed on the pitch at the Cusack Stand end. The decisive score came from a typical line-break from Stefan Campbell and full-back Aaron McKay advancing to palm a goal home as Armagh won 1-11 to 0-13. Armagh celebrate the All-Ireland final win. Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO A final word on that and how the Gaelic football world has changed. Armagh's winning tally would have been enough to have beaten the following teams in this year's provincial championships; London, New York and Limerick, and only Cork scored less in this year's group stages against Meath. The two-pointer has changed football. But few could have predicted how it has freed up Armagh and Galway to show just how incredible they can be on their day.
RTÉ News
7 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
'Struggling' Galway need to find a spark in order to overcome Armagh
Former Mayo captain Keith Higgins feels neighbours Galway need to find their "spark" if they are to defeat Armagh and keep their championship hopes alive. Speaking on RTÉ's The Championship, Higgins cited the returning Damien Comer as being the potential level-raiser hiding in plain sight. "From a Galway point of view, maybe he [Damien Comer] has a couple more weeks training done since coming on against Derry," said Higgins. The Annaghdown clubman was an impact sub in the draw with Derry a fortnight ago, scoring one point from a mark. Now as Pádraic Joyce's men look to keep their season alive, Higgins believes Comer could be the saving grace. "He might be a bit sharper, and you might get a bit more impact off him, but Galway just need to find some bit of a spark. "If Galway could get some type of a result here, it could kickstart their season again", claimed the Mayo man. Galway venture up to Kingspan Breffni Park to renew an old rivalry with a familiar foe. The Tribesmen were narrowly pipped by Armagh in last year's All Ireland Final, following a drawn group stage tie. A year prior went the same way in the group stage, while back in 2022, Matthew Tierney was the hero as Galway edged McGeeney's men on penalties in an epic encounter. For Higgins, its finely poised to be another rip-roaring contest. "This is the one that sticks out. "There's been so much talk in the last couple of years in terms of the system and format and the lack of jeopardy, but we're looking at jeopardy here now for Galway. It's a huge game for them", Higgins told RTÉ. "Looking back on the last couple of games, the second half of that Connacht final when Mayo pushed up on them, Dublin came to Salthill and pushed up on them and Derry really went at them up in Celtic Park a couple of weeks ago. "I don't think Armagh will play that type of a game, they will be more inclined to sit back into their defensive shape, so it could suit Galway a small bit more", Higgins added. "It will be a big test but it's great to see the jeopardy finally kicking in." Galway enter the game knowing a win would keep them in the hunt for at least another week, whereas Armagh are guaranteed top spot and qualification for the All-Ireland quarter-finals courtesy of wins over Derry and Dublin. However, if their four previous meetings in the last four years are anything to go by, Galway will need to be at their very best for 70 minutes in order to overcome the Orchard County. Follow a live blog on the All-Ireland Football Championship on Saturday on and the RTÉ News app. Listen to updates on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Saturday Game at 9.30pm. Watch an All-Ireland Football Championship double-header, Monaghan v Down and Donegal v Mayo, on Sunday from 1.30pm. Follow a live blog on and the RTÉ News app. Listen to updates on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Sunday Game at 9.30pm.
Irish Times
7 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Can Galway squeeze more from Shane Walsh and Damien Comer? Now is the time to find out
We probably should have noted the time, but it was about 3.20pm on the first Sunday in June when Shane Walsh played a simple pass to Damien Comer, prowling outside the arc. As Galway's season slipped in and out of consciousness, it was the first minute they had played together since last year's All-Ireland final . The reunion lasted just 10 minutes. One pass and fleeting glances. Galway still trailed Derry by six points when Walsh was replaced after an hour. Eoin McEvoy brushed past him and Walsh looked dead on his feet. Paul Conroy and Cillian McDaid had already been whipped off and Dylan McHugh would soon follow; four All-Stars, stood down. Among the obvious solutions, the last one standing was Comer. In 20 minutes, he touched the ball seven times; every possession led to a shot for him or someone else. With time running out he fielded a 50-yard punt that landed inside the D, dominating air and ground. Forewarned was no defence. For the goal that ultimately rescued Galway , two Derry players ended up on the deck fighting him for the dropping ball. He caused the wave and Derry were dunked in the backwash. READ MORE 'Even with the other lads gone,' says Barry Cullinane, the former Galway player and Galway Bay FM analyst, 'the 20 minutes that Damien was on we looked like a completely different team. He just creates havoc. That's what he brings to the party.' For large swathes of the last three years, Galway have missed not just Comer, but the dynamic between him and Walsh. In this year's National League, they didn't play a minute together; in the Connacht championship, neither of them played a minute. After Galway lost the All-Ireland final in 2022, Walsh was shortlisted for Footballer of the Year and Comer was the All-Star full forward. As Malachy Clerkin pointed out , Galway played 450 minutes in that year's championship, and Walsh and Comer were on the field together for 417 of those minutes. Their good health and spectacular form propelled Galway to the brink of glory. Since that All-Ireland, though, Galway have played 40 games in league and championship and Comer and Walsh have completed 70 minutes together just twice. In the last two seasons, they have started a mere four games together. Galway have carried that limp in their step. 'I don't think there's another county that has had two quality footballers like that who have had such an unfortunate run of injuries, particularly together,' says Gary O'Donnell, the former Galway player. 'If you look at the other big teams, I don't think any of them have had any misfortune like that.' Galway's Damien Comer and Shane Walsh have completed 70 minutes together just twice since 2022. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho Comer has been tortured by his hamstrings. Last year, both of them went: first the left, then the right, then the left again. He recovered in time for the Connacht final and was terrific against Mayo, but then one of his hamstrings flared up again. 'I was probably a bit sore after the Mayo game and maybe didn't manage it as well as I could have,' said Comer on the Maroon and White podcast last October. 'But then you break down against Derry [in the 2024 group match] and you're back to square one and your confidence goes again.' He made no appearance in Galway's next two championship games and only came on as a sub against Monaghan in the preliminary quarter final. When Galway reached Croke Park Comer was well enough to start but not fit enough to do himself justice. In Galway's last three championship games he failed to score; in the final against Armagh he was on the ball just eight times, for the output of one assist. 'I just missed way too much training,' said Comer. 'Mentally it's a challenge because you're trying to come back, you're trying to get your body right, you're doing all the work and then you break down. You're in bad form because you put so much on hold to play. '[The final] was disappointing from a personal point of view because I didn't offer a whole pile. That would probably be the biggest disappointment for me, but that's probably where I was at. I was probably expecting more out of myself than my body was able to give. When you haven't the work done, you're relying on an empty tank.' So far, there have only been glimpses of what Comer might achieve with the new rules. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho Walsh's injuries have been more spread out and he has enjoyed longer periods of remission than Comer. Last year, though, started badly. In the opening game of the league, he tore his right quad. 'The first kick against Mayo last year I felt something,' he told Maurice Brosnan in March. 'I'd never torn anything before in my life, so I hadn't a clue what was going on. The second kick, I definitely knew.' For the rest of the year, he stopped taking kicks off the ground, essentially on medical advice. When they beat Dublin in the All-Ireland quarter-final Walsh hobbled off the field with a few minutes to go, and though he played in Galway's last two games, his fitness was compromised. In the All-Ireland final, Walsh managed to get on the ball 18 times, but he was double-teamed a lot, and his impact was minimal. From seven shots he scored just two points; in the second half he missed three placed balls, as well as a shot from a mark. In the 2022 final he had kicked nine points, one more than David Clifford . The contrast couldn't have been starker. This year, Walsh came back fresh, energised by the new rules. In the opening five rounds of this year's league, he kicked a staggering 15 two-pointers. 'It's back to the skills of the game,' he said after the Donegal game in February. 'You are seeing a lot more lads go one-on-one, seeing lads sidestepping and taking shots on. For me, that is what I believe football is all about. That is why I love it.' Before the championship, though, he broke down. He was replaced at half-time in the second last league game against Dublin and didn't play again until they faced Dublin in the championship nine weeks later. After the first Dublin game, Pádraic Joyce said that Walsh had 'a routine procedure' on a back injury, but didn't respond to the injection. Before they played Roscommon in the Connacht semi-final, a month later, Walsh damaged a hamstring in a training session for players not in the match day 26. All of it amounted to a hole punched in his season. Before the Connacht final, Comer played in a challenge match against Cork and was injured again. So, for the guts of the last three years, Galway have nursed Walsh and Comer and waited on them and took whatever they could give. It was clear, Galway could no longer depend on them, even though they yearned for that dependence. In their relationship, the co-ordinates shifted. Strip away the X-factor stuff, and Galway have a free taking problem when Shane Walsh is not on the field. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho 'If you go back three years, to the 2022 season, that was a bit of an outlier,' says Cullinane. 'Before that there was a similar enough trend where it was very difficult for us to get both lads on the pitch.' 'You have to remember, the two boys are in their early 30s [Comer is 31, Walsh is 32],' says O'Donnell, who played with both. 'We've been harping on about it for a few years. It's just the nature of the beast [picking up injuries]. They've a lot of football played. Knowing the set-up that's in there, they're probably more focused now on who they have available. Lads have come in in their absence and done well.' There is an argument that Matthew Tierney plays better when Walsh and Comer are missing, but any perceived bounce in his performance still leaves Galway with a deficit. Strip away the X-factor stuff, and Galway have a free taking problem when Walsh is not on the field. When Comer is absent, their attack misses the steel fist in the silk glove. 'It's the Plan B or Plan C that Damien brings,' says O'Donnell. 'He's different to other players who play in there. Other lads feed off the attention he gets off defenders. He creates a bit of chaos inside. You can throng balls in, you can go short, you can bring him on the loop. I don't think any other team has the kind of firepower he would bring.' The form that Walsh showed in the opening rounds of the league has been absent since he returned against Dublin and Derry. Taking him off after an hour in Celtic Park, when Galway needed scores to save their summer, would have been lunacy at any other time in Walsh's career. But going down the stretch Galway got clutch scores without him. Walsh was no longer a sure bet. 'He's still showing individual moments of brilliance,' says Cullinane, 'but I don't know is he showing enough consistency that he's going to be a real threat over 70 minutes. Are they going to have to make a decision? Is he a 50-minute player?' [ Dublin's scoring dilemma: Without Con O'Callaghan's firepower, Dessie Farrell's men are in treacherous waters Opens in new window ] And yet, if Galway save their skin against Armagh this weekend, it is impossible to imagine them as credible contenders for the All-Ireland unless they can squeeze something more from Walsh and Comer. So far, there have only been glimpses of what Comer might achieve with the new rules. O'Donnell has a vision of it. 'If you had Damien playing full forward there's a lot of shooters on the outside who can take two-pointers. If you have defences pushing up on them, you've no other option but to leave green grass inside for Damien. He's such a serious complement to both sides of things.' They still need them.
Irish Daily Mirror
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Derry v Galway live score updates from All-Ireland SFC group stage clash
Galway need a ruthless display at Celtic Park in Derry today after the Dublin defeat in the first round of the All-Ireland SFC group stage. Padraig Joyce's men were many people's Sam Maguire favourites up to then but that talk has gone cold and defeat again today in Derry could prove very costly. The continued absence of Damien Comer is a blow, but he has been added to the squad at the 11th hour. The need is great for Derry also today after defeat to Armagh in round one. Paddy Tally's men are shipping too many scores as injuries have left the team well short of experience and power. It's a baptism of fire for young duo Ruairi Forbes and Patrick McGurk today against some of the best players in the game from Galway. Lachlan Murray is on the bench for Derry, as is goalie Odhran Lynch. Either or both could well start. They pushed Armagh to four points, but were 13 behind with 11 minutes to go. The bookies make Galway 2/5 favourites and have Derry as long as 13/5. Great news for Galway in that Damien Comer is in the Tribe 26-man squad today. Cian Hernon is out. Derry may not be pleased to see him back Welcome to Celtic Park in the Bogside in Derry city for today's crunch All-Ireland SFC clash. Defeat in round one for both teams has increased the stakes. Both will be desperate for points. The rain is gone for now but the wind is going to be aserious factor today. Two pointers aplenty..
