Nothing routine about Armagh test but Galway can make a statement

THE moment of truth has arrived for Padraic Joyce and his team. All year, Galway have been building up to a game of this magnitude – an All-Ireland football quarter-final. The county standing in their way may not have been an opposition that they imagined, but it adds intrigue clash to Sunday’s big clash with Armagh.

Having won promotion back to the top-flight of the National League and regained the Connacht title, Galway are undoubtedly a rising force again, but this is the acid test so far against an Armagh team which is also on an upward curve after taking down All-Ireland champions Tyrone, and Donegal, in the qualifiers.

Galway have only lost twice in 2022 and one of those didn’t count when they fielded a weakened team against Roscommon in the final round of Division Two group ties, having already secured their place in the decider. And if their subsequent defeat to the Rossies in the league final at Croke Park was disappointing, the Tribesmen had already achieved their primary target of promotion.

Heading up to Castlebar for a Connacht quarter-final against Mayo had the potential to make or break Galway’s season, but a first-half Johnny Heaney goal and some magnificent long-distance free-taking from Shane Walsh give them just about enough insulation to withstand the home team’s late fightback.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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