Padraic Joyce confident Galway can bounce back from Connacht final defeat
GALWAY senior football manager Padraic Joyce is confident his side can bounce back from Sunday’s Connacht senior football championship final defeat to Roscommon.
Joyce was quick to stress that Galway’s objective this year is to capture All-Ireland honours.
“I don't have much to do to motivate our lads. We know the longer-term picture in Galway is to win the All-Ireland. So, we're still in the hunt to do that,” said Padraic Joyce in the aftermath of Galway’s defeat to Roscommon in the Connacht SFC final.
After Damien Comer’s goal on 61 minutes, Galway looked to be in strong position leading 2-22 to 3-13. However Roscommon finished with a flourish landing the final eight points of the second half to hang on for a narrow 3-21 to 2-22 victory.
"It's unlike us to give away a lead like that,. In years gone by, we would have seen that out but we didn't today. Six points up and four points up.
“The lads are very disappointed. I’ve spoken to them, they know that it was in their own hands losing that game. But you know, hats off to Roscommon, you have to give them good praise in fairness,” added Joyce.
"But look, fair play to Roscommon. Daire Cregg kicked a brilliant ‘two’ to bring it back to one point and then Diarmuid [Murtagh] kicked the one to win it. They're a quality side, we probably should have seen the game out a little bit."
Joyce admitted that he felt the Connacht SFC came down to small margins but he also said his side are focussed on the bigger picture.
“Just small little margins on the day. Like Sean Kelly, that point could have been under the crossbar by another few inches. Small little things.
“But, look, I'm not going to get out of here really, really down. We're disappointed, no doubt about it. But the bigger picture for us has always been the big prize.”
Galway now turn their attention to a clash with Kildare in round one of the All-Ireland SFC on Saturday May 23rd at 7:30pm in Pearse Stadium.
“I know the draw was last week, which was ridiculous by the GAA, but it is done now. We'll stay focused on what's coming this week. We'll worry about Kildare now.”