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Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Derry v Galway live score updates from All-Ireland SFC group stage clash
Galway need a ruthless display at Celtic Park in Derry today after the Dublin defeat in the first round of the All-Ireland SFC group stage. Padraig Joyce's men were many people's Sam Maguire favourites up to then but that talk has gone cold and defeat again today in Derry could prove very costly. The continued absence of Damien Comer is a blow, but he has been added to the squad at the 11th hour. The need is great for Derry also today after defeat to Armagh in round one. Paddy Tally's men are shipping too many scores as injuries have left the team well short of experience and power. It's a baptism of fire for young duo Ruairi Forbes and Patrick McGurk today against some of the best players in the game from Galway. Lachlan Murray is on the bench for Derry, as is goalie Odhran Lynch. Either or both could well start. They pushed Armagh to four points, but were 13 behind with 11 minutes to go. The bookies make Galway 2/5 favourites and have Derry as long as 13/5. Great news for Galway in that Damien Comer is in the Tribe 26-man squad today. Cian Hernon is out. Derry may not be pleased to see him back Welcome to Celtic Park in the Bogside in Derry city for today's crunch All-Ireland SFC clash. Defeat in round one for both teams has increased the stakes. Both will be desperate for points. The rain is gone for now but the wind is going to be aserious factor today. Two pointers aplenty..
3 days ago
- Sport
Damien Comer returns as late addition to Galway squad in Derry
Damien Comer has returned to the Galway squad for their trip to Derry, the 2022 All-Star replacing Cian Hernon on the panel ahead of the Celtic Park game. Comer has not featured for Galway since making a late cameo appearance in their Connacht semi-final win over Roscommon. He subsequently picked up an injury prior to the Connacht final against Mayo and was originally excluded from Galway's match-day 26. Derry and Galway face off in Celtic Park, with both badly needing a result after opening round losses to Armagh and Dublin respectively.
Irish Times
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Dean Rock: Don't be surprised if the Galway v Dublin game boils over – it could decide the Dubs' season
Perceptions can change quickly. Only 11 months ago Galway entered an All-Ireland quarter-final against Dublin as significant underdogs. On Saturday, they are among the Sam Maguire favourites while Dublin travel to Salthill all battered and bruised and supposedly gone beyond their sell-by date. The manner in which Galway have handled their second All-Ireland final defeat in three years is a testament to their character. It doesn't seem to have knocked their confidence at all. Indeed, if anything, they've played like a team on a mission this season. There's no doubt those Galway players were disappointed with how they performed against Armagh in Croke Park last July. There will be regrets, it was a missed opportunity. But there doesn't appear to be any baggage, any hangover. Rather than feeling sorry for themselves they have instead displayed great energy and purpose – right from the off. They posted a six-point home win over Armagh in their opening league game before going to Castlebar and handing Mayo a 10-point hammering in round two. In those two opening matches Galway had set out their stall for the year: they weren't about to disappear, they fully intended to be in the mix for 2025. Anybody questioning their desire could think again. READ MORE The way in which they dug out victory over Mayo in the Connacht final two weeks ago will really have pleased Pádraic Joyce, too. And doing so without Shane Walsh and Damien Comer won't have gone unnoticed within the group. It was interesting to see the messaging come out of the Galway dressingroom afterwards, with Joyce responding to a question about Comer and Walsh by saying he'd rather focus on the players who got the job done against Mayo. 'If they are fit the next day they'll be part of it, but if not we'll keep going with what we have, because what we have there seems to be doing okay,' he said. Shane Walsh and Damien Comer are key to Galway's chances of success this season. Photograph: James Crombie/INPHO There might have been a lot of truth in what Joyce was saying, but, looking at the bigger picture, Galway will need both Comer and Walsh fully fit and on the field if they are to lift Sam Maguire in July. Their injury setbacks have been frustrating for the management team and for Galway fans, so you can only imagine how difficult it has been for the players. And when injured players see how well their team is going, the danger of rushing back too soon in a bid to stake a claim for a place is always present. Walsh had been playing some brilliant football during the early stages of the league. It was one of the first campaigns he had got a sustained run of form with Galway, because his involvement with Kilmacud Crokes in the club championship had affected his availability in recent years. Galway are a very good side, but add a fully fit Comer and a fully fit Walsh and their All-Ireland credentials soar. You can't underestimate the value that picking up silverware adds to a group, so claiming a fourth Connacht title on the bounce has once again demonstrated Galway's ability to perform and deliver under pressure. Which brings us to Saturday's game, the standout fixture of the weekend. Who is the pressure on? Mostly, I'd have to say, this is a more important game for Dublin. One of the key areas will be around the middle third where Galway have some hugely influential footballers. After all these years Paul Conroy is still the player driving that Galway team on from midfield. Galway's Paul Conroy and Mayo's Stephen Coen in action at the Connacht final on May 4. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/INPHO His Footballer of the Year award last season showed what can be achieved with persistence and strong character. He has always been a nice fella off the pitch, but on it Conroy remains a ferocious leader for Galway. John Maher has become a great foil for him and allows Conroy display his kicking ability – he is one of the prevalent two-point kickers in the game. Indeed, I'd be surprised if Dublin haven't been working on nullifying that particular threat. Conroy kicked seven points against Mayo, including three two-pointers. I expect to see Dublin set out to deny him such scoring opportunities. In the absence of Brian Fenton and James McCarthy, Dublin haven't looked as comfortable at midfield this season. And because that is such a strong area for Galway, the Dubs will need to compete strongly in that sector on Saturday. We can forget about the officially named teams because I expect to see changes on both sides closer to throw-in. But I think we'll see some variation in how Dublin approach midfield, perhaps with Seán Bugler or Ciarán Kilkenny operating from there. The wind that blows in from the Atlantic and down across Pearse Stadium is often talked about as having a major bearing on games at Salthill. However, the forecast for Saturday is bright sunshine and Salthill will hold no fears for Dublin. It never has. I played league games there and traditionally Dublin have always enjoyed playing Galway. The players will be relishing this game because the dominant narrative out there is that Dublin are not live All-Ireland contenders this summer. From the moment they arrive at Pearse Stadium, I expect you'll see strong body language from the Dublin players getting off the bus and walking to the dressingroom. Dublin's Ciaran Kilkenny and Colm Boyle of Mayo at the 2019 All-Ireland semi-final. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/INPHO They are coming in very much wounded, but the addition of several players to the squad since the Meath match changes the dynamic. If Galway get sucked in by all the noise then this will be a dangerous game for the Connacht champions, because I don't believe they are a team that should be thinking they are at a level yet where they can dismiss Dublin comfortably. In that sense, it's perfectly set up: Galway are strong favourites and all the talk is of Dublin's demise. If Dublin do lose, a lot of the criticism and overarching opinion in relation to their demise will look justified, but if they win then Dublin are going to be a serious problem for others to contend with for the rest of the championship. As a group, Dublin realise the difference between victory and defeat is massive. I expect huge intensity from the off and wouldn't be surprised if the game boils over at times, because this match could determine the season for Dublin. Victory would send a message to the rest of the country, but more importantly it would also reassure the Dublin players that they remain a force capable of competing for Sam Maguire. If Galway lose, I don't think it would derail their championship push, because they progressed to the All-Ireland final last year without finishing top of their round-robin group. They are an experienced side and while a defeat would be a setback it wouldn't be terminal blow for their ambitions to win a first All-Ireland since 2001. A defeat for Dublin could be more damaging, though, because both the actual road back to the capital that night and the metaphorical one back to Croke Park on All-Ireland final day would appear long indeed should they ship back-to-back championship losses. A victory puts them back in the race. Perceptions, one result can change everything.
The Irish Sun
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Padraic Joyce and Galway's All-Ireland chances receive huge boost before Dublin game with talisman's return
SHANE WALSH is back in the Galway team for tomorrow's All-Ireland SFC opener against Dublin. The Kilmacud Crokes forward has yet to feature in this year's Championship due to a back injury. Advertisement 2 While Walsh is back, fellow star attacker Damien Comer remains absent 2 Padraic Joyce's men have still looked formidable without them But his inclusion for the clash with the Dubs in Salthill is the only change to Pádraic Joyce's side from Skipper Seán Kelly reverts to the defence, with Seán Fitzgerald dropping to the bench. Damien Comer remains absent. Stephen Cluxton is set to retain his place in goal for Dublin. The only change to the Blues team Advertisement Read More On GAA GALWAY: C Gleeson; J McGrath, S Ó Maoilchiaráin, J Glynn; D McHugh, S Kelly, L Silke; P Conroy, J Maher; C Darcy, S Walsh, C McDaid; M Tierney, R Finnerty, M Thompson. Subs: C Flaherty, D O'Flaherty, C Hernon, K Molloy, S Fitzgerald, J Daly, S O'Neill, C Sweeney, L Ó Conghaile, T Culhane, P Cooke. DUBLIN: S Cluxton; D Byrne, T Clancy, C Tyrrell; C Murphy, J Small, B Howard; P Ó Cofaigh Byrne, T Lahiff; N Scully, L O'Dell, C Kilkenny; P Small, C O'Callaghan, C Basquel. Subs: E Comerford, L Breathnach, C Costello, N Doran, A Gavin, D Keogh, S MacMahon, G McEnaney, K McGinnis, B O'Leary, D O'Leary. Advertisement Most read in GAA Football Ahead of the match-up Niall Scully has clarified that he gave no consideration to joining the winter exodus from the Dublin panel. When the Sky Blues begin their All-Ireland SFC campaign in Salthill, they will do so without several members of the side who faced the Tribe last summer. Gardai investigating as GAA fans engage in brawl in shop Brian Fenton, James McCarthy, Paul Mannion, Mick Fitzsimons and Jack McCaffrey — who all started the one-point loss to Pádraic Joyce's men in the 2024 quarter-final — have stepped away. But Scully, who recently turned 31, said: 'I could understand why anyone would but I had a couple of years on the panel where I wasn't making it. Advertisement 'It wouldn't have felt right for me. I worked incredibly hard to get to where I am. I wouldn't be able to give it up this season.' Scully played alongside Fenton, Mannion and McCaffrey on the Dublin team that won the All-Ireland Under-21 title back in 2014. But he had to bide his time before establishing himself at senior level, with the Templeogue Synge Street man eventually making his Championship debut against Carlow in 2017.
