Pádraic Joyce’s New York state of mind: Mix with supporters, NBA games and Broadway shows, manage the squad

THE BIG APPLE: Galway manager Padraic Joyce is expecting a tough test in New York. Pic: ©INPHO/Lorcan Doherty

The biggest shock in decades was prevented by a vintage display from Pádraic Joyce.

That was the summary in this paper’s match report from the 2010 meeting. Forewarned is forearmed.

Galway jetted off to New York on Thursday for their opening Connacht Championship clash against New York.

That trip can be tricky. The surface at Gaelic Park won’t suit a side that was plagued by injuries last year. Joyce was there 15 years ago when Joe Kernan secured his sole championship victory as Tribes manager.

Joyce landed a goal and a bagful of points. With the clock ticking down, a 13-man New York were just two behind but eventually lost by seven.

“We're not looking past it,” said Joyce, speaking at the Connacht Championship launch.

“I know people say, 'Oh, you'll beat New York because you're Division 1 and they have played no game'. But we'll try and get as much intel on them as we can. It's going to be tough. Again, the surface over there as well won't suit some of our players to be playing on it.

“We have to get the best squad out and at the same time it'll fall back on us. I know a lot of supporters are going for a bit of craic for the weekend. My focus is to get a second-round match against Roscommon in a couple of weeks' time.”

Joyce has handed out three championship debuts to goalkeeper Conor Flaherty and forwards Matthew Thompson and Brian Mannion. They brought the entire panel with them and want to make the most of it. A Brooklyn Nets game, Broadway shows, fan meet-and-greets, Galway will embrace all of it.

“Because when we went over years ago, we stayed an hour outside the city which was a bit of a disaster really because you're in one of the nicest and busiest cities in the world. I remember where we stayed, we were an hour and-a-half bussing in and out. Even when the game was over, trying to look after lads and we lost lads.

“We're staying in the middle of Manhattan when we go over. I think lads need to enjoy the city as well when they're there. There's loads to do. We're doing the meet and greet on the Friday night. It's organised through Jimmy Glynn, there's a Dancing Like a Star event on Saturday night, we're not going to that.

“We'll mix with the supporters because I think players have to understand and realise we're not that privileged that we can be like Premiership stars that people want to be coming at us.

“We'll mix, we'll enjoy it. We'll go and enjoy the city. Lads will go and do a bit of shopping, do a walk, sightseeing, do all that stuff. I think they need to go and enjoy it, but obviously the focus will be the game on the Sunday.”

This is Joyce’s fifth campaign at the helm. They are now firm All-Ireland contenders and setting out to claim their first Connacht four-in-a-row since 1974. From day one, he made his ambition known. Change took time.

“I just felt in Galway over the years, there was a bit of a city culture. We had lads going round the town wearing a Galway top of the sake of it and that kind of craic. So got rid of all that, a lot of it, and changed a lot of players when we came in.

“Some didn't buy into what we were trying to do. Some left, some stayed. It's just that the focus has to be on football. We're trying to leave it in a better place because we won't be here forever.

“Some of the players are there for a while, we'll be gone, players will be gone, but there needs to be an ethos in the squad that Galway is now competing probably in the top three or four teams in the country.” 

It takes its toll. Intercounty management takes about 50 hours a week, he estimates. Don’t get it wrong, he relishes it too. There had been good work done. There is more to do.

“We still haven't reached the pinnacle and we're trying to. You need standards in the group to achieve that. They are in place and we're trying to improve them all the time.

"It needs to be a privilege now to play for Galway and there are certain things, I'm huge on the Galway GAA brand that no one steps outside the mark on that. No one disrespects that.

“Even a simple thing like going for a cup of coffee or tea, if someone says hello to you and wants a picture, you do that.

“You help the kids as much as we can because we didn’t have huge support in Galway when we started off initially. I always say that it's up to us to give supporters the reason to come with us and follow us.”