All-Ireland final Armagh v Galway- The marginal gains

By Michael McMullan

SUNDAY’S showdown in Croke Park has all the hallmarks of going to the final few moments and beyond. It’s time to take a look at some of the key factors.

KEY MATCH UPS

CONOR Turbitt has been the ace up front for Armagh this season and will dominate the Galway defensive discussions ahead of Sunday. Armagh and Galway are quite similar in their collective plans in defence but Johnny McGrath may well be the man assigned to follow Turbitt wherever he goes.

Another of Armagh’s focal points is how they use Andrew Murnin. Seán Fitzgerald would be the man to likely pick him up on the edge of the square with Seán Ó Maoilchiaráin, or possibly one of their half forwards, if Armagh start to use him as a target for Blaine Hughes on kick-outs.

It would leave Jack Glynn as the player to pick up Rory Grugan who tends to come deeper to link play and pick out passes.

At the other end, Barry McCambridge is the player most likely to pick up Shane Walsh who after coming up against him before and also faring well on David Clifford.

Aaron McKay has also been very consistent and could very well be handed the job on Damien Comer close to goal. The other side to Comer’s game is pulling out for the odd kick-out to mix up Galway’s approach.

There is also Robert Finnerty to keep tabs on with his role kicking points off the loop or his vision to pick out the final pass.

This could be a job for Paddy Burns who has been one of their key markers close to goal.

TACTICAL TAKE

ANOTHER part of the Armagh thought process will be hammering the hammer on Dylan McHugh. And it’s a fine line. Thinking back to the Ulster final, Oisin Conaty was stationed on Ryan McHugh with great effect and he could be the man to go on Dylan McHugh. While Joe McElroy would have the engine, Conaty’s threat going the other way might keep McHugh pegged back.

Armagh’s initial study of Galway’s win over Donegal will point to how much joy Connor Gleeson got from the variation on his kick-outs. Cillian McDaid and Matthew Tierney were the long to medium targets. They have Conroy and D’Arcy in that area with the short ball also used to Seán Fitzgerald and Seán Ó Maoilchiaráin to keep Donegal guessing. This is where Armagh need their most homework.

The positioning of Tiernan Kelly will be another factor in Armagh’s plans this weekend. While Damien Comer hasn’t set the world alight in recent games, he was a one man forward line in the Connacht final win over Mayo. Everything went through him. Everything.

It will be role reversal for Aaron McKay who often acted as the extra defender at times. McKay will almost certainly be handed the role on Comer leaving Kelly to mix his linking of the play to sitting tight to cut the direct ball option to Comer. Concentration is key.

KEY NUMBERS

BOTH Armagh and Galway have played 16 games, across league and championship, on their way to the season’s iconic Sunday. Here are some statistics from the season.

Armagh
Scoring average: 1-15
Average conceded: 0-13
Goals for: 20
Goals against: 5
Top scorer: Conor Turbitt 5-54
Percentage of team’s total score: 23.4%
Top scorer from play: Conor Turbitt 4-24
Scores from subs: 4-25 (3f)
Top scorer from bench: Aidan Nugent 0-8 (3f)
Players started: 24
Players used: 29
Top appearances: Blaine Hughes, Aaron McKay, Peter McGrane, Joe McElroy, Oisin Conaty, Rory Grugan, Conor Turbitt (16 starts)

Galway
Scoring average: 1-13
Average conceded: 0-13
Goals for: 15
Goals against: 6
Top scorer: Robert Finnerty 1-48
Percentage of team’s total score: 19.6%
Top scorer from play: Paul Conroy 2-16
Scores from subs: 4-25 (7f, 1m)
Top scorer from bench: Tomo Culhane 3-1
Players started: 28
Players used: 30
Top appearances: Connor Gleeson, Johnny McGrath, Sean Fitzgerald, Dylan McHugh (16 starts), Céin D’Arcy (12 starts, 4 subs)

Stats based on league and championship

REFEREE

SEAN Hurson was in the middle when Kerry beat Galway in the 2022 All-Ireland final.

The Galbally man was also in charge when Galway drew with Armagh in the group stages and oversaw the Tribesmen’s quarter-final win over Dublin.

Hurson has refereed All-Ireland minor, u-20 and club finals.

LISTD LINEUPS

CIAN Hernon is the only Galway player on the injured list but there was a difficult selection call over Seán Kelly. Pádraic Joyce did say his skipper was back in training. If he starts it is a tough call on Céin D’Arcy getting dropped. If there is a late change again on Sunday, Kelly would be a great option coming in off the bench.

There was a difficult call in the named Armagh team with Peter McGrane missing out. He doesn’t naturally match up against Galway’s shape of keeping the three men up top that are likely to be picked up by Paddy Burns, Aaron McKay and Barry McCambridge. Connaire Mackin comes in for his first start since Armagh’s win over Galway.

ARMAGH

1. Blaine Hughes

2. Paddy Burns

3. Aaron McKay

4. Barry McCambridge

5. Connaire Mackin

6. Tiernan Kelly

7. Aidan Forker

8. Ben Crealey

9. Niall Grimley

10. Oisin Conaty

11. Rian O’Neill

12. Joe McElroy

13. Rory Grugan

14. Andrew Murnin

15. Conor Turbitt

GALWAY

1. Connor Gleeson

2. Johnny McGrath

3. Seán Fitzgerald

4. Jack Glynn

5. Dylan McHugh

6. Liam Silke

7. Seán Ó Maoilchiaráin

8. Paul Conroy

9. Seán Kelly

10. Matthew Tierney

11. John Maher

12. Cillian McDaid

13. Robert Finnerty

14. Damien Comer

15. Shane Walsh

Check out the neutral view of Sunday’s All-Ireland final with columnists Gerard O’Kane and Kevin Cassidy