Padraic Joyce delighted as Galway remain in top flight
GALWAY senior football manager Padraic Joyce was happy to see his side retain their Division One status for the 2027 season.
The Tribesmen’s 0-20 to 1-15 victory over Dublin last Sunday afternoon secured their top-flight status for next year in front of 9,274 spectators.
“People say it's important to try and win it (Division One). We're always trying to win it. But it’s very important to stay there. Because you look at the crowds there today,” said Joyce.
“It’s not with respect to Division 2. It’s very strong. There’s a lot of good teams down there in fairness, but I think Division One, you see the crowds and the games you have there.”
Joyce's side lost Matthew Tierney and Sean Kelly to injury in the first half and trailed 0-12 to 0-7 at the break. Galway produced an impressive second half to narrowly defeat Dublin and relegate them into Division Two.
“Very easy to go mental at half-time with them, the way they played. But look, they’re great lads, the character was brilliant,” He went on to praise Rob Finnerty’s and Cian Hernon’s performances in particular.
“I know Dublin had a lot of wides, the far side. Look, our lads stuck at it and we’re kind of used to going down to one-score games at this stage. So, look, for Rob [Finnerty] to kick that one at the end was brilliant. But some great performances by some of the lads.
“I thought Cian Hernon was outstanding for us. He was full-back, we got him out into midfield, he pulled the ball out of the sky at the end and kicked two superb scores.”
Joyce went on to pay tribute to his clubmate Michael Lyster, the former presenter of The Sunday Game who sadly passed away earlier that day.
“He's a club man of my own. He lived across the road from the football pitch in Barnaderg there. So, yes, shocking news and hard to take. Just a great GAA man.”