Pádraic Joyce: 'A pressure kick by Shane. He gets unfair criticism half the time in Galway'

Galway manager Pádraic Joyce during Armagh clash. Picture: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

A one-point defeat, a draw and a one-point win. Maybe we should have known this epic Group 4 encounter was only ever going to end this way for Galway.

Pádraic Joyce’s side turned around an eight-point half-time margin to clinch a huge win with Shane Walsh stepping up after the hooter to kick a clutch free.

“We were fighting for our lives really,” said Joyce post-match.

“We knew we were going to go to the championship but we took the shackles off and for some reason it took that to start playing a bit of football and we kicked 2-15 in the second half which was huge kicking.

“We controlled the game at the end there a little bit when we could have lost it or won it, got our hands on the ball and Cein D'Arcy won a kickout at the end and Paul (Conroy) used all his experience to win the free.

“It was a super kick by Shane, a pressure kick by Shane. He gets unfair criticism half the time in Galway about stuff, but he was fantastic today and he has trained really well the last couple of weeks, put in a super performance for us today.” 

Galway did not start 2024 Footballer of the Year Paul Conroy or regular goalkeeper Connor Gleeson, with Peter Cooke and Conor Flaherty coming in.

“My job as manager, there's people picking teams in Galway every day of the week and look my job is to pick what I see in training.

“Paul probably struggled in the last couple of games, we spoke about that and better have his impact off the bench. We have to realise as well that Paul is pushing 36 years of age, he can't keep Galway going his own the whole time. He needs a bit of help.

“I think today he got a bit of relief, not starting but what an impact he had in the game. He fought for ball, he won kickouts, he won frees, controlled the game, kicked a point and got fouled for the last free at the end there. Look, he is one of the best players I've ever seen play for Galway.” 

On the injury front, Liam Silke was taken off having suffered a bug during the week. Damien Comer suffered an injury in training and is a doubt to play in the preliminary quarter-final as well. Nevertheless, they are in the draw.

“I still think we're not where we should be, to be honest,” said Joyce of their form.

“I think we're struggling to get over the line, to win games at times and that kind of stuff but happy to still be in the last 12. Obviously whoever gets us won't want to get us because of where we're coming from but we have to just keep going with the head down with the finals on in six weeks, six weeks tomorrow. Our aim is to still be there. We've got three tough games to get over the line to get there.”