A SHOT in the arm for Gaelic football from a pair of fairly electrifying semi-finals is something everyone can get on board with. Whether it be Kerry’s fadeout or Donegal’s decision-making down the stretch, everyone has their takeaways, but at least the post-mortems are dominated by partisan opinion rather than collective nausea. That’s a start.
As the dust settles, we are left with an intriguing final featuring the novel and exciting pairing of Armagh and Galway. Both have shown admirable resilience, with identities forged through tough days, galling defeats, and injuries, each collaborating to mould them into battle-hardened squads.
Armagh and Galway have one thing in common at least – they do not shy away from adversity. Both have stared into the abyss and emerged stronger. They are ready for any challenge, no matter how daunting. For that and other reasons, the decider promises to be full of intrigue, featuring crew that have become accustomed to navigating their way through the storm.
Picking over the coals of their respective performances over the weekend, reveals a lot. Armagh have to be admired. As a group, they have taken big hits and much criticism, for decisions made and performances given over the last number of years. Now though they are becoming increasingly comfortable in their own skin. Their identity as a team is collectiveness, their honesty of preparation, and commitment to the game plan. They have players of proven ability and a 26-man match day panel equal or greater than any other. How they have developed over the years as a team is a credit to themselves and the group.
As Kieran Donaghy mentioned afterwards, Armagh as a county has not had much underage success of late, but slowly and methodically, as is their way, they have grown and developed and are now a formidable senior unit. This is a serious achievement from management. Kieran McGeeney, a real players’ manager, holds the unequivocal respect of all the playing group. You had Kildare players, before the weekend, wishing him well, showing the loyalty he engenders. Armagh are in it together, and they are the essence of a team shaped by its journey. There is not a battle they will shirk. Again, they rode their luck Saturday against Kerry, but got the break with McCambridge’s goal to give them the separation needed. Because of Armagh’s way, the final will be close, because it will be systems-based.
Galway, in the week that Johno was laid to rest, certainly cannot be described anymore as ‘fancy dans’. The Croke Park tribute to O’Mahony on Sunday exceptional and would have inadvertently increased Galway focus. It was a de facto rallying call.
Padraic Joyce’s men were impressive against Donegal, who themselves had a real chance to go all the way this summer. When they reflect, Jim McGuinness will appreciate the progress they have made this year. Galway, though, have developed into a different entity. They are incredibly hard-working; they are structured and have absolute clarity re the task at hand. As a team, before our eyes, you see the change. Shane Walsh, Damien Comer, and Sean Kelly have been heroic over the years for Galway, with Kelly in particular over the last five years, single-handedly driving Galway forward. But they are not the cornerstones for this team anymore. They led the way, but others have now taken up the mantle.
Leadership can be different things to different people, but when you look at Dylan McHugh’s incredible game presence, John Maher’s relentless honesty, Johnny McGrath and Jack Glynn’s capabilities, we see a different Galway now. There is a composure and a confidence level (Rob Finnerty growing contributions, Liam Silke’s calmness) that has Galway on the verge of something great. Battered all year with injuries and rumours, they have surmounted all that to become killers – irrespective who plays and who they play.
It’s ironic, in a weird way, that the injuries of Sean Kelly, Damien Comer, and Shane Walsh, may have been the best thing to happen to this Galway panel. Their absences have demanded ‘next man up’, others thrown into leadership roles. Sink or swim stuff. If the three amigos were at full tilt, they would be dominating games and Galway possession. Would Maher have progressed like he has? Would McHugh be such a force now? Galway’s injury sagas may have forged a new cohort of team generals.
A lot of counties watching may now be thinking they are light years away from the sharp end of the campaign but a championship defeat earlier to a finalist is an erroneous comparison to make. Losing a provincial or even the group stage championship game bears little actual comparison to the now.
The rate of team development during the championship can be frightening. Using your county’s previous performance against one of the final four as a reference point for your compass is fruitless. A word to the wise: do a cold, clinical review of your strengths, get the prep done in the off-season, and let the finalists have their day.
Management develops a squad over time. They need space. McGuinness is in Year 1 of this Donegal term and has made massive progress, Jack O’Connor is after Year 3 now since his return with Kerry. But PJ and Kieran, two managers who were under severe pressure in their own counties, this year, have survived the onslaught and with five and 10 years’ experience respectively with their groups, they have now had the window to developed serious teams.
Armagh have developed the biggest squad in the country, through year-by-year incremental improvements. McGeeney’s resolve despite everything is magnificent. Joyce, on the other hand, has cut his teeth in a highly pressurised environment. Only a dodgy free away from a Connacht final loss, he held strong and now his squad are starting to flourish.
In both cases experience of the managers and the time they have had with their squads has undoubtedly benefited the development of Armagh and Galway.
July 28 will be a brilliant occasion. The final might start off a little sticky and cautious, but the talent on the pitch and the reward on offer virtually ensures a special kind of madness and excitement will break out.
Whoever wins it will be fantastic for the county and the GAA at large.
