Pádraic Joyce sets out his stall: 'I said it from day one, it is about winning the All-Ireland'

“They eked it out, they put the shoulder to the wheel, worked really, really hard. They took the hits, they gave the hits, They completely snuffed Derry out.”

WINNING EMBRACE: Galway manager Padraic Joyce and Damien Comer celebrate after their victory over Derry at Croke Park 

Galway’s first set of back-to-back championship wins at Croke Park in 21 years should bring an end to the narrative that there is a “soft underbelly” to this Galway side, manager Pádraic Joyce has said.

Not since Joyce himself was leading the line during the maroon summer of 2001 have the county won consecutive championship games at GAA HQ, his charges today successful in unscrambling the latest northern puzzle put in front of them at Croke Park.