Huge change coming but some things remain the same

Galway played their first game under new lights at Pearse Stadium.

LIT UP: A general view during the Allianz Football League Division 1 match between Galway and Armagh at Pearse Stadium in Galway. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Allianz FL Division 1:  Galway: 1-12 (1-3-6) Armagh: 0-9 (0-0-9) 

Lights, cameras, action? Not a huge amount of it anyway. On Saturday new rules were rolled out under Pearse Stadium’s recently developed floodlights as Galway kicked off 2025 on a relatively positive note.

They overcame Armagh in the first meeting since the 2024 decider by six points in Salthill. For manager Pádraic Joyce, it was far from a perfect performance, but the circumstances are important. Conditions were bitter, the pitch was dreadful, a host of young prospects lined out and impressed including Daniel O’Flaherty and Cillian Ó Curraoin.

"I think the work-rate from the lads was brilliant,” Joyce said post-match.

“The effort everyone put in was great. We tackled really hard and we worked really hard. We would have been seen as probably a nice team to play against, but I think a lot of lads worked really, really hard.

“You take Danny O'Flaherty, I thought he was exceptional at corner-back. A new position for him, great pace. Seán Fitz was outstanding at full-back for us. But our seasoned players played really well too. When you can bring the likes of John Maher, Liam Silke, Shane Walsh, Kieran Molloy and Johnny Heaney off the bench, it is great to be building a squad."

Galway led 1-4 to 0-5 at half-time thanks to a Matthew Tierney penalty after a counter-attacked kicked off with a Finnian Ó Laoi quick free. A substitute in the 2022 All-Ireland final, Ó Laoi was making his first appearance since returning from Australia.

Three quickfire two-pointers pushed the tie out of Armagh’s grasp in the second half. One of them was a Shane Walsh free after a three-up infringement. Kieran McGeeney later said he had sought clarification around this during the week and was told it had to be a 20m free, which evidently was wrong.

Paul Conroy kicked a corker from play and Niall Grimley was sent off for a strike on O’Flaherty. McGeeney’s outfit did try and chase the tie with Ethan Rafferty coming on to operate as a fly-goalkeeper. There was a late foul on Andrew Murnin that Armagh felt should have been a penalty.

“We played reasonably well, we got sloppy,” said McGeeney in summary.

“A lot of lads back with not enough in the legs. Galway played well, played the conditions well. The wind picked up; it was a pity we didn't start with that gale that happened about 20 minutes beforehand. 

"Listen, Galway used the conditions better in the second half than we did. Three two-pointers in the second half, an extra three points, a penalty going one way and not the other. It wasn't a great game for us. Loads to improve on.” 

Six months after lifting Sam Maguire, there has been plenty of change in the Armagh panel. There were starts for Tomas McCormack, Darragh McMullan and Shane McPartlan. Rian O’Neill was not in the 26 and McGeeney is unsure if we will see him in 2025.

“He is taking a bit of time out for himself at the minute. I don't know whether it is weeks or months. We said we'd give it to him.” 

He continued: “When it is personal I try not to ask any questions. He was in for a while and he was training, he is just taking a bit of time for himself. That is it.” 

When Dublin played Mayo in the 2024 championship, it was a belter. Their meeting on Saturday night was even better. When Galway played Armagh in the 2024 championship, many found it dull. Their meeting on Saturday night was even worse.

That is essential to any consideration of the new rules. They can’t and won’t be a panacea. The difference here was that Galway had a fitter squad and landed the decisive goal. At half-time in the 2024 All-Ireland final, Galway had 14 phases, 10 shots and six scores. Armagh had the exact same.

In 2025? Galway 15 phases, 12 shots and five scores. Armagh had 14 phases, nine shots and five scores. There is huge change coming, but some things will remain the same.

Scorers for Galway: C. Ó Curraoín 0-5 (1 2pt, 2 f); M. Tierney 1-1 (1 pen, 1 free); P. Conroy 0-2 (1 2pt); S. Walsh 0-2 (1 2ptf); D. O’Flaherty 0-1, F Ó Laoi 0-1.

Scorers for Armagh: O. Conaty 0-4; R. Grugan 0-4 (3 free); C. Turbitt 0-1 free.

GALWAY: C. Gleeson; J. McGrath, S. Fitzgerald, D. O’Flaherty; D. McHugh, J. Daly, S. Kelly; P. Conroy, C. McDaid; C. Sweeney, F Ó Laoi, C. Darcy; C. Ó Curraoín, M. Tierney, S. O’Neill.

Subs: S. Walsh for O Laoi (10-15, temp); S. Walsh for McDaid (42); J. Maher for Tierney (45); L. Silke for O’Neill (54); K. Molloy for Kelly (63); J. Heaney for Ó Laoi (67).

ARMAGH: B. Hughes; T. McCormack, B. McCambridge, A. Forker; C. Mackin, G. McCabe, J. Duffy; B. Crealey, N. Grimley; S. Campbell, S. McPartlan, D. McMullan; O. Conaty, A. Murnin, R. Grugan.

Subs: C. O’Neill for Crealey (6-8, temp); C. Turbitt for McPartlan (half-time); R. McQuillan for Forker (38); C. McConville for Duffy (49); J. Og Burns for McCormack (60); E. Rafferty for Hughes (60).

Red card: N. Grimley (60).

Referee: C. Lane (Cork).