The coolest head in inter-county management - Shane Walsh hails Padraic Joyce
Shane Walsh has credited Padraic Joyce for staying cool under pressure when Galway stared down the barrel of a Championship exit last Saturday.
The Connacht champs were on the brink of an early exit until Joyce lifted the team with a calm, studious team talk at half time.
The upshot was they came from behind to defeat Armagh and secure a preliminary quarter final away to Down this Sunday.
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Star player Walsh said: 'We went in at half-time knowing that they'd probably been a bit hot and that we weren't executing our chances.
'Padraic obviously wanted us to up the level a bit and just bring a bit more intensity in the second half. It never felt like we were gone.
'We then knew after the positive start we made (in the second half) we were in a good position and it was just about trying to see it out then. We worked a really good opportunity at the end and Paul (Conroy) showed all his experience as well to win the free.'
And that was a free Walsh converted to seal the deal.
The former All Star outlined what went through his head as he stood over the ball to secure Galway's win over last year's All-Ireland champs.
He said: 'Probably three different things. Firstly, when you're walking over, you're just saying 'calm, this is my job now.'
'Then there's a few words coming your way from opposition and then the heart rate starts to go up a bit.
'Then you're coming back in saying, you've dreamt of this as a young lad. This is what you grew up dreaming about, saying you want to be in these situations and just commit to the kick, be yourself. That's all I could do, I suppose, and thankfully it went over.'
All of which brings another Ulster team - Down - onto their radar, the third Ulster side they have played in a row.
Walsh said: 'Down are probably the most in-form team. Even with the Donegal game, 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.
'We all know about going up to Newry, you never get that easy up there either. Conor Laverty always has his team as well drilled.
'So it's a great challenge. Again, no more than the group that we had with Dublin and Derry and Armagh, having Down again, it's another unbelievable challenge if you get through it to build your confidence, build the belief in the team and build a bit of momentum.'
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