Kate Geraghty: Captaining Galway in All-Ireland final a 'special feeling'
NEVER LETTING GO: Galway captain Kate Geraghty holds onto the Brendan Martin Cup ahead of the TG4 All-Ireland final on Sunday. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Galway captain Kate Geraghty said it is special to be captaining her county on the biggest day in the ladies football calendar on Sunday.
Geraghty will look to follow in Annette Clarke footsteps and become the second Galway ladies footballer to captain her county to All-Ireland success.
Clarke was the Galway captain in 2004 when the Tribeswomen last won the Brendan Martin Cup. That is the only time Galway have managed to get their hands on the Brendan Martin Cup, they have suffered defeats in the 1975, 2005, 2019 and 2024 All-Ireland finals.
“It’s a special feeling but at the end of the day it’s just another day of football. There will be a bit of excitement and nerves, I think once you're out on the pitch it’s just another game,” said Geraghty.
Reflecting on Galway’s 2024 All-Ireland final loss to Kerry, Geraghty admitted it’s important for her side to take the learnings from that defeat.
“We will have to take our learnings from that game, and look back and see what we can do differently. There’s loads of different players that are playing this time, it’ll be a different game.
“We are gelling together and putting in consistent performances, we’ve players from the half back line, half forward line and full forward line, we are not just relying on one or two players getting those scores,” added Geraghty.
The full-back line of Kate Geraghty, Bronagh Quinn and Sarah Ní Loingsigh produced a disciplined performance in Galway’s All-Ireland semi-final win over Armagh holding them to just one point from play.
“I think we have a really solid defensive structure, we had Siobhan (Divilly) stepping back there as well, but there was so much work done in the middle third cutting out the ball in and that really helped us in the full-back line.”
Galway were frustrated by last year’s All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Dublin after controlling large periods of the game, they came up short after extra time.
Geraghty admitted the Tribeswomen have used that hurt heading into this season.
“It was a huge motivator, nobody wants to be in that position in a semi final losing out and our ultimate goal was getting back to the final this year.”
The Tuam Cortoon player feels Galway are starting to reap the rewards of having Daniel Moynihan in charge for three seasons this year.
“It’s the first time that we’ve had a manager for a couple of years. I think it makes a huge difference, having that consistency. This is their third year, getting used to your management team and trusting your management team is a huge thing.
“It means everything to all of us, all you want to do is win a final in Croke Park, hopefully we will be able to do that,” concluded Geraghty.
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