The possible stories from the All-Ireland final – The Irish News

JOYCE VULSTER: Since taking charge of Galway five years ago, Pádraic Joyce has played 21 Ulster opponents, winning 16 and drawing twice. Their only Championship defeat to a northern opponent came in the group stage against Armagh last year, a first ever win for the Orchards over Galway. In his own playing days, they had beaten Derry in 1998 and 2001, and Armagh in their second All-Ireland winning season too – although his last game in maroon was an infamous 0-11 to 0-10 qualifying defeat to Antrim.

CIARAN HIGGINS EXCITING BALL: Armagh have played 16 Championship games in the last two years. Ciaran Higgins has played 101 minutes of football, 95 of which were against Galway. Out of nowhere he has started the last two meetings between these teams. There was a feeling that he was there to mark Damien Comer, but the Galway forward was a doubt for both games with injury and ultimately did not play. Higgins was a huge curveball in last year’s group game and even more so this year, having not played a single minute of Championship football since last year’s game. If he is a last-minute substitute on Sunday you will know why. If not, expect Aaron McKay to be detailed. He marked Comer in St Mary’s first round victory over NUIG in the 2017 Sigerson Cup.

A ROUTE TO GLEE: Conor Gleeson came into the 2022 final against Kerry under immense pressure, having struggled with the high ball against Armagh in the quarter-final. The Kingdom threw their first ball from 70 yards and he coped with it. He hit everything for the first 15 minutes and then it stopped, the storm had raged. But he and they had clearly spent the entire fortnight preparing, amid all the noise around them. This time it is quieter. Armagh sniffed their recovery to 1-1 after his kickout in the group game a month ago, but it is how they hurt Galway in the air that they may look at here. Ethan Rafferty’s goal from distance in last year’s league game came from throwing a ball in the air and getting bodies around it, causing a nuisance. They haven’t had many long kicks to Andrew Murnin this summer, but the St Paul’s man was on display a lot this weekend.

ARMAGH’S PRESS AND DYLAN McHUGH: On the occasions that Armagh attacked Galway with a high level of pressure at Markievicz Park, all bases were covered except one – Dylan McHugh. It was the in-form Corofin man who consistently paid tribute for the Connacht men. It raises the possibility that Armagh will indeed put a full-time tag on McHugh on Sunday, with Joe McElroy – who did a fine job with Paudie Clifford after being moved there at half-time in the semi-final – the most likely recipient of the task.

GALWAY DON’T GIVE THE BALL AWAY: In last year’s group stage match, Armagh went 0-9 on turnovers. This year, that number has been reduced to just 0-2. In Galway’s All-Ireland semi-final win over Donegal, the Ulster champions went just 0-3 on turnovers. In both games this year, they have taken 28 shots from 32 attacks. They simply don’t get turned over. Armagh will look to lay traps for cornerbacks Johnny McGrath and Jack Glynn, their least likely shooters, but both are comfortable moving the ball into pressure areas. So much of Galway’s game plan revolves around keeping the ball out of contact – does that make Armagh’s best chance of winning by creating as much contact as possible, anywhere on the field?

BENCH ENERGY v BENCH EXPERIENCE: Armagh’s bench has been a huge factor in their run so far, not least the explosive introductions of Stefan Campbell. He will see the whole of the second half at least, more if things don’t go to plan. Armagh have a mature approach to winning games. They are criticised for keeping players in reserve but for them it’s not about being ahead at minute 35, minute 50 or minute 65. It’s about being ahead at minute 75. The classic quarter-final two years ago, this year’s group stage match and their semi-final win over Kerry all followed a similar pattern of recovery. But they have capitalised on the chances they have been given. Galway have security and composure on their bench, John Daly, Cathal Sweeney, Johnny Heaney, Cein D’Arcy. But Armagh have grit and energy and probably the edge.