05-05-2025
Padraic Joyce hails Galway grit as Tribes edge Mayo in Connacht final classic
PADRAIC JOYCE was the king of Castlebar after their chaotic Connacht final win against Mayo.
The
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Galway manager Padraic Joyce hailed his side's grit after the win in the Connacht SFC final against Mayo
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Galway captain Seán Kelly lifts the Nestor Cup as the Tribesmen won four on the bounce
But the Tribes held their nerve coming down the stretch to haunt their neighbours once more, as Rory Brickenden was black carded on the hour mark and Conor Gleeson's super save denied Enda Hession.
Dylan McHugh's heroic block foiled Paul Towey before Liam Ó Conghaile's score saw Mayo off.
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He said: 'It is kind of a bad thing that it has taken so long to do. Since the 1960s. Again, so be it. We obviously weren't good enough over the years. We've done it now.
'We knew it was going to come down to the wire. It's about making the right decisions in high pressure situations as we call them. We got a bit of luck but sometimes when you work hard enough a bit of luck will come your way.
'Two teams going at it hammer and tongs. While I'm elated, we could easily have come out on the wrong side as well. Mayo came back well.
'It looked like we were in trouble against the wind, under pressure on our kickout, in fairness to the lads they controlled the ball.
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'When we had the man advantage we took into the tackle a few times which we will improve on but overall I have to command the lads for the work they put in.
"This has been a target for the group and we'll enjoy it now, and move on.
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'For us to come out of Connacht as number one seeds, it's great to win it. It gave us huge momentum last year and you see where we ended up.
'To try and regroup and play again in two weeks after a defeat, it's just a different mindset so I'm delighted to come out of it.'
Matthew Tierney's first half penalty and 0-7 from reigning Footballer of the Year Paul Conroy was crucial.
But McHugh's block to deny Towey with two minutes to go was every bit as important.
And the Corofin defender was braced for whatever Mayo threw at them when the chips were down.
He said: 'As I said out there, if you're not going to put your head on the line with two minutes to go in a Connacht final, you're never going to do it.
'That's what you train for, that's what a tight game is - it comes down to moments. And yeah, some big ones.'
