Tribes boss insists squad is ‘a bit down’ after Armagh draw forces them into All-Ireland quarter-final preliminary
But the Galway boss insisted his squad is strong enough to cope with the potential of playing three huge matches on consecutive weeks – if they can win their home preliminary quarter-final next weekend.
“You’d like to avoid it but we’re at a stage where we can’t avoid it. I think our panel is probably big enough and developed enough to deal with three games in-a-row. Look, we’ll be fine,” he said.
Joyce was left to bemoan what might have been after today’s 0-15 to 1-12 apiece stalemate, as Armagh battled back from five down in the final quarter to draw, a result that saw them top All-Ireland SFC Group 1 on scoring difference.
It meant Galway have surrendered top spot to Armagh two years running, and they must now negotiate a last-12 clash in Pearse Stadium to reach the quarters.
Joyce was left to lament a match-turning goal from Tiernan Kelly, off a gifted Galway kickout, as well as a succession of second half misses.
But he was adamant that the performance in Sligo was “way better” than Galway produced when narrowly beaten in Carrick-on-Shannon 12 months ago.
“It is a bit disappointing that we didn’t get the result we needed. Second year in a row, score difference killed us,” the Galway boss reflected.
“Look, it is what it is. The lads played really well overall. They did a lot of stuff right. Just didn’t finish the job at the end with a clinical score.
“Look at the top teams, when they are five or four up you have to go to six or seven. Just kill the game, which we didn’t do.
“Fair play to Armagh. They are a good side. We know that. They are unbeaten in football bar penalties the last couple of years. We just left them in the game and they fought the way they always do.
“We’ve played them three times in a row and there is only a kick of a ball between us in the three years. We competed very well. Just a bit down that we didn’t win the game by a point.”
Joyce argued that his players did “an awful lot right. Maybe 92 or 93 per cent right. Just not enough to see the game out … you need to kill the game and play to your potential. It’s top-drawer stuff all the time. Disappointing, but we’ll just move on.”
He was unsure if key forward Damien Comer will have recovered from his muscle injury in time for next weekend, having picked up the injury four weeks ago.
Seán Mulkerrin departed with a back injury today while Cein D’Arcy also hobbled off.
“Seán got a back injury there – a bit of a spasm. Hopefully he won’t be too bad. Cein D’Arcy went off as well with a knock. They’re just receipts for the battle all day, so they’ll be alright,” he suggested.
