Pádraic Joyce still has the sledgehammer but sometimes a more delicate tool is needed

17 June 2025; Galway footballer Shane Walsh poses for a portrait with the Sam Maguire Cup at the national launch of the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Series at the Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

In his first year or two as Galway manager, Shane Walsh believes Padraic Joyce might have blown the dressing room door off its hinges had his side been eight points down at half-time in a season-on-the-line championship game. That did not happen on Saturday against Armagh. 

Joyce still has the sledgehammer in the toolshed but it doesn't suit every job. The Kingspan Breffni dressing room door remained intact and Galway emerged through it to pull off the type of comeback win upon which seasons turn. 

“He came in really composed and spoke clearly about what he wanted us to do in the second half and what we weren't doing as well," explained Walsh, "and then really he just got behind us to encourage us.” 

A loss to Armagh would have left Galway’s progression to the knockout stages dependent on the result of the other game in the group between Dublin and Derry. They had missed two first half penalties, one being saved by Ethan Rafferty from Matthew Tierney’s strike and the other blazed over the bar by Rob Finnerty. The chances were there but not taken. They did take them in the second half, scoring two goals while Walsh kicked the winner with the last play of the game. Joyce opting for restoration, not demolition, paid off. 

“His first minute or two was just to get a few things across and then the rest was just about bringing belief and confidence into the group,” continued Walsh.

“He's been doing that, in particular, since the Derry game. It's been really showing through because we probably felt the two games that we played (in the group), we weren't getting to a level and confidence wasn't high. Whereas he was constantly reminding us how good we can be and we need to get to that level. I suppose that kind of just poured through us in the second half then.” 

Walsh called Joyce’s media persona “black and white”. There’s a bluntness to some of his interviews, a demeanour which amuses some in the Galway panel.

“You'd probably be humoured by it as opposed to actually anything else,” said Walsh. “Because you don't really see the Padraic that we see all the time. You just see what he says to ye (the media).

“From that perspective, we've had that side of him, but we've also had the side where he mixes things. He's a real family man as well, behind it all. As I said, the media doesn't really see the part that we know. You just see the Padraic that ye think you know.

“We'd nearly be laughing and joking about some things. He could be saying things about us to the media. And sure, we know where he's coming from. It's not as if we'd be saying that's a personal attack or anything like that.

“He always has a few interesting things to say to us which do crack a smile. I think his best one was that ‘you can boil an egg in five minutes but you can score a goal in one.’ Make of that what you want.” 

Finishing third in their group behind Armagh and Dublin means Galway will travel to Newry this weekend for a preliminary quarter-final against Down. 

“They’re probably the most in-form team,” said Walsh. “Even with the Donegal game (Ulster semi-final), they were probably unlucky with a lot of goal chances they had that day. And you see the way they've been building since the league, they're a completely different proposition.

“Conor Laverty always has his team well drilled. I know him, he's a lovely fella off the field but when it comes to his football, he's very serious about winning as well and he'll do whatever it takes.

“I remember he was eating the head off me against Cavan when we were playing them back in the league a couple of years ago. Then, he came out smiling, giving me a hug after the game. I was like, I didn't know what to make of you about half an hour ago. 

"We all know about going up to Newry, you never get that easy up there either.”