Galway minor footballers facing tough task against Tyrone in All-Ireland quarter-final

But Manager Cossie Gilmore believes the extended break has been beneficial, giving his squad valuable time to focus on the tactical aspects of their game.

“Of course we were disappointed after the Connacht final. Just taking that performance, I suppose, that has given us the belief that, you know, that we're there, thereabouts, coming into the All-Ireland championship,” said Gilmore.

“We've had a good break. It has given us a chance to work on, you could say, the tactical side of things which we wouldn't have had a lot of time for between the games that were coming thick and fast in the Connacht championship.”

Gilmore said the internal games between the panel have been hugely valuable for his squad over the past four weeks.

“It's been kind of a relaxed atmosphere because the games weren't coming and there's been intense competition in the squad. We've had really, really good internal games, lads have been pushing for places on the team and pushing for places on the panel.

"So, from that point of view, it has been very, very good, you know. And we've got to spend more time with the lads, and from their point of view, they got another four weeks of good training.”

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Corofin clubmen Ryan Connolly and Adam Healy who have been in impressive form for the Galway minor footballers are injury concerns heading into this weekend’s clash against Tyrone. Gilmore is expecting a massive challenge.

Goalkeeper Evan Burke has provided a massive two point threat from frees, while Eoin Gannon and Jamie Dillon have impressed at the back while further forward Oisín Ó Neachtáin, Joey Cullinane and Eanna Maher will give Tyrone plenty to think about this weekend.

“Every team gets to look at each other, the fact that the games are being televised. Tyrone are setting the bar at underage level for every county, they’ve won Ulster titles out of the last six years. And then what’s feeding through the U20’s has ensured two All-Ireland’s in the last three years, their pathway is excellent and they are doing really well.

“In Gerard Donnelly, they have a really experienced manager, he’s been there for the last four years. Tyrone are a really formidable team, for us it’s going to be a super competitive game.

"That’s what you want, what I like about Tyrone. They play football the right way, it’s fast ball and it’s skillful, from that point of view that will suit us because we are a similar team," added Gilmore.

Tyrone recorded a 2-16 to 1-12 victory over Derry last Friday in the Ulster final. Conan Canavan and Logan O’Connor hit 2-5 between them in that success.

The Red Hand county came from eleven points down to defeat Cavan in the provincial semi-final, while they also overcame Monaghan and Armagh during the group phase of the Ulster MFC.

In 2022, Galway were defeated twice by Mayo and once by Leitrim during the Connacht Minor Football Championship but they went on to defeat Dublin, Derry and Mayo in the All-Ireland series and ended up going the whole way. That should give Gilmore’s outfit some belief heading into this weekend’s clash.

“It’s a whole new competition again, yes we’ve lost out in a provincial final whether we won Connacht or not we were going into the All-Ireland quarter-final and that’s where we were at. From a Galway perspective in 2019, they lost the Connacht final and went all the way to the All-Ireland final. In 2022 under Alan Glynn Galway lost the Connacht final and went on to win the All-Ireland.

“It has proven beneficial to Galway over the years, I’d love that to be the same for us, in the management’s opinion we are good enough to do it, being good enough and turning up on the day are two different things. Hopefully we can turn up on Saturday and give a performance for 60 minutes and not leave ourselves with too much to do.”

Roscommon face Derry, Kildare take on Kerry and Cork meet Meath in the three other All-Ireland MFC quarter-finals at the weekend.