PÁDRAIC JOYCE insisted that nice guys finish last as he urged his players to go after Galway’s first National League title since 1981.
Joyce’s side were beaten in an All-Ireland SFC final for the second time in three seasons when they fell short against Armagh last summer.
But he was thrilled with their level of endeavour on Saturday in Salthill, where the Tribe reversed the outcome of the Sam Maguire decider to start their season with a 1-12 to 0-9 win over the Orchard.
The Galway gaffer said: “The work-rate from the lads was brilliant. The effort everyone put in was great.
“We tackled really hard and we worked really hard. We would have been seen as probably a nice team to play against but I think a lot of lads worked really, really hard.
“You take Danny O’Flaherty, I thought he was exceptional at corner-back. A new position for him, great pace. Seán Fitz was outstanding at full-back.
“Our seasoned players played really well too. When you can bring the likes of John Maher, Liam Silke, Shane Walsh, Kieran Molloy and Johnny Heaney off the bench, it’s great to be building a squad.”
Oisín Conaty and Rory Grugan led the way early on for Armagh, who were 0-5 to 0-1 ahead after the first quarter.
But Galway took a two-point advantage into the interval after seizing the lead through Matthew Tierney’s penalty.
The hosts then harnessed the wind to avail of one of football’s new rules as man-of-the-match Cillian Ó Curraoin, Shane Walsh and Paul Conroy all reeled off two-point scores.
Joyce reflected: “I wouldn’t be overly happy with the way we started the game but obviously we grew into it after 17, 18 minutes.
“I think the penalty was a big turning point to get us back into the game. To go in at half-time two up after not playing overly well was great.”
Only a week separates this year’s Division 1 final from Galway’s clash with New York in the Connacht SFC quarter-finals.
But Joyce reckons the trip to the Big Apple should not deter them from harvesting silverware from the fruits of their labour in the league.
He said: “To win it would be great. We haven’t won it in so many years.
“But then you’re looking at the winners in the last couple of years and you’re kind of wondering if you want to win it with the way they finished up in the Championship and that kind of stuff.
“Look, we’re going out first of all to try and get six points and be safe. I think every team tries to win two of the first three games and then see where you’re at.
“We’re in New York the week after the league final. But we have 40 players training as well so we’re not going to hold back in the league. We’re going to go at it and if we end up in a final, we’ll try to win it and take it from there.
“And if we do have a poor Championship, it won’t be because the league was so successful.
“Division 1 at the minute is hugely competitive.
“We’re going to get seven brilliant games to figure out where the Cillian Ó Curraoins of this world, the Danny O’Flahertys, Seán Fitzs, the Johnny McGraths and these fellas are at. It’s great.”
For Armagh, there is uncertainty over the involvement of Rian O’Neill in 2025 as the All-Star forward is ‘taking a bit of time out’, manager Kieran McGeeney revealed.
Of the Galway absentees in the victory against the All-Ireland champions, injury-plagued attacker Damien Comer was the most notable.
But Joyce added: “He’s coming back from the club season and we probably hope to see him later in the league. But he’s training away.
“He’s definitely in better shape now than he was this time last year, I’ll put it that way. They’re all training away. We have no huge injuries, touch wood.”
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