All Ireland Final Armagh v Galway 28 July 2024

[blanketattack]

Galway by 4.
Galway beat the reigning All-Ireland champions and a fancied Donegal team in the knockout stages.
Armagh beat a poor Roscommon team and a very out of sorts Kerry team, so on form think Galway should have too much.

[Rossfan]

If Armagh win, they'll have won the All-Ireland without any of their players having played in an All-Ireland semi-final prior to the All-Ireland winning year.

When's the last time this has happened?

It was Roscommon in 1943.

Dublin 1974?

[Truthsayer]

If Armagh win, they'll have won the All-Ireland without any of their players having played in an All-Ireland semi-final prior to the All-Ireland winning year.

When's the last time this has happened?

It was Roscommon in 1943.

Dublin 1974?

Good call! Checking back last Leinster was 1965... maybe Jimmy Keaveney was there. Heffo did go looking him to make a return.

[Aaron Boone]

If Armagh win, they'll have won the All-Ireland without any of their players having played in an All-Ireland semi-final prior to the All-Ireland winning year.

When's the last time this has happened?

It was Roscommon in 1943.

Dublin 1974?

Good call! Checking back last Leinster was 1965... maybe Jimmy Keaveney was there. Heffo did go looking him to make a return.

Limerick 1887 would be the first. 

[GalwayBayBoy]

Great little video.

https://x.com/Galway_GAA/status/1816948353063600550

[blanketattack]

If Armagh win, they'll have won the All-Ireland without any of their players having played in an All-Ireland semi-final prior to the All-Ireland winning year.

When's the last time this has happened?

It was Roscommon in 1943.

Dublin 1974?

Keaveney played in 65 semi
https://x.com/gaanostalgia/status/834090079484276736?lang=en

[balladmaker]

Great little video.

https://x.com/Galway_GAA/status/1816948353063600550

Ah fantastic video, brings it all back to where it started, along way from All Ireland Final day in Croker!

[Captain Obvious]

Galway by 4.
Galway beat the reigning All-Ireland champions and a fancied Donegal team in the knockout stages.
Armagh beat a poor Roscommon team and a very out of sorts Kerry team, so on form think Galway should have too much.

Kerry was no more "out of sorts" against Armagh than they were in last year's final or semi final v Tyrone in 2021 and had Derry the fitness/conditioning plus bench impact of Armagh they probably would have beaten Kerry last year.


Galways neighbours Mayo beat the reigning All-Ireland champions a few times and didn't go on to win the All-Ireland. Fancied Donegal didn't beat Armagh in 90 minutes of action.

[armaghniac]

Galway by 4.
Galway beat the reigning All-Ireland champions and a fancied Donegal team in the knockout stages.
Armagh beat a poor Roscommon team and a very out of sorts Kerry team, so on form think Galway should have too much.

Kerry was no more "out of sorts" against Armagh than they were in last year's final or semi final v Tyrone in 2021 and had Derry the fitness/conditioning plus bench impact of Armagh they probably would have beaten Kerry last year.


Galways neighbours Mayo beat the reigning All-Ireland champions a few times and didn't go on to win the All-Ireland. Fancied Donegal didn't beat Armagh in 90 minutes of action.

Donegal are no better than Armagh, they lost composure a bit in the last 5 minutes against Galway, had their shooting been as good as in Clones then they would likely have also drawn with Galway.
It is hard to see how the Galway performance against Donegal implies beating Armagh by 4, although if their men are fit you could make a marginal case for Galway. A margin of 4 would imply that Armagh misfired on the day, which is possible as it is their first final.

[nrico2006]

Galway by 4.
Galway beat the reigning All-Ireland champions and a fancied Donegal team in the knockout stages.
Armagh beat a poor Roscommon team and a very out of sorts Kerry team, so on form think Galway should have too much.

Kerry out of form just because they lost?

[Blowitupref]

BBC pundits verdict.


Michael Murphy

Twelve months ago, I managed to correctly predict that Dublin would beat Kerry by two points in the All-Ireland final. This time around I'm still equally as indecisive with my prediction.

I have gravitated towards both Armagh and Galway for different reasons. Armagh have been hardened by the highs and lows of their journey and will be given that extra lift by the thousands who will travel south to Croke Park on Sunday.

It's been 21 years since they were in an All-Ireland final and they won't be easily beaten, but the closer we get to the final, I'm putting more and more value in Galway.

This group has been here before, just two years ago. They have the experience and they have the system to win this game. Even with question marks over the fitness of Sean Kelly, Damien Comer and Shane Walsh, the form of their other big-game players has been simply phenomenal.

Prediction: Galway

Oisin McConville

The teams are evenly matched. There's been a point between them in the four games that they've played recently.

The winning and the losing of the game for Armagh is around the midfield. [Galway goalkeeper Connor] Gleeson coughed up a goal and two points to us the last day we played that got us the draw we needed to top the group.

That made a massive difference as the competition has gone on.

Armagh got two weeks rest as a result - and it looked as if that was something we needed. Armagh look fresher now.

Again, they've got to target him. You've got to target his kick-outs. If Armagh can do that, then it's up to the big men in the middle of the field to win the ball.

The one person who keeps popping up in my head is Damien Comer. Physically, I'm not sure Armagh have anyone to match him. He wasn't 100% fit the last day. If he is fit, he's more dynamic than any other forward Armagh have come up against.

If we curtail him, Armagh can win the game.

Prediction: Armagh

Owen Mulligan

The midfield sector is so important with Galway's Paul Conroy and Sean Kelly taking on Niall Grimley and Ben Crealey of Armagh. There's certainly power and pace there and they are four box-to-box players.

With Connor Gleeson and Blaine Hughes' kick-outs both very accurate, that will be a decisive factor.

Barry McCambridge picking up Shane Walsh will be massive as well. Walsh has been carrying an injury and McCambridge kept Kerry talisman David Clifford to one point from play in the semi-finals so I think he'll test Walsh by running up and down the field.

It's been a long time for both teams. I think it'll be a draw after 70 minutes with Armagh winning in extra-time.

Prediction: Armagh

Ray Silke

Firstly, I think Comer, Walsh, Cillian McDaid and Rob Finnerty are more efficient than the Armagh forwards. Assuming Walsh and Comer are injury-free, they will provide a lot of trouble for Armagh.

Comer hasn't scored in the last two matches but if he kicks back into form, Aaron McKay or Barry McCambridge will have their hands full.

Secondly, the Galway defence has been exceptional all year. The highest margin they've conceded all year was 16 points against Dublin. In Dylan McHugh and Liam Silke they have two outstanding half-backs while Johnny McGrath and Jack Glynn will be on their way to All-Stars if they win.

The only goal they've conceded in nine matches was against Armagh in the group stage, albeit from a kick-out mistake by Connor Gleeson.

Thirdly, it might be the last chance for Paul Conroy, who is 35, Comer and Walsh, who've been struggling with injuries, and maybe even Padraic Joyce and Cian O'Neill themselves. It's their fifth year there. There is a sense of 'let's get this done', especially after 2022. They won't take Armagh for granted but I think Galway will edge it.

Prediction: Galway

Mickey Harte

There are so many variables that make predicting this game difficult.
Can this Armagh group handle the razzmatazz of being in a final for the first time?
Can Galway use the hurt of two years ago to their advantage?
Will Shane Walsh, Sean Kelly and Damien Comer be fit for Galway?
Their games are always tight. Two years ago in Croke Park it went all the way to penalties.
We can't have penalties on Sunday of course so I think these two won't be separated after extra-time and we'll be back to do it again in a fortnight.

Prediction: Draw

[seafoid]

If Armagh win, they'll have won the All-Ireland without any of their players having played in an All-Ireland semi-final prior to the All-Ireland winning year.

When's the last time this has happened?

It was Roscommon in 1943.

Dublin 1974?

The question indicates what Armagh are facing and given the rarity of the feat , it must be an advantage for Galway.

[armaghniac]

If Armagh win, they'll have won the All-Ireland without any of their players having played in an All-Ireland semi-final prior to the All-Ireland winning year.

When's the last time this has happened?

It was Roscommon in 1943.

Dublin 1974?

The question indicates what Armagh are facing and given the rarity of the feat , it must be an advantage for Galway.

Yes, but Roscommon 1943 was also the last time that a Connacht team beat an Ulster one in the final.
It just goes to illustrate the novelty of the game.

[Truthsayer]

If Armagh win, they'll have won the All-Ireland without any of their players having played in an All-Ireland semi-final prior to the All-Ireland winning year.

When's the last time this has happened?

It was Roscommon in 1943.

Dublin 1974?

The question indicates what Armagh are facing and given the rarity of the feat , it must be an advantage for Galway.

Yes, but Roscommon 1943 was also the last time that a Connacht team beat an Ulster one in the final.
It just goes to illustrate the novelty of the game.

True dat! Connaught and Ulster were usually the poor relations in the championship. Commentator was onto Pádraic Joyce how Galway hadn't beat Dublin in the championship in so years years... decades and decades... but Joyce reminded him they'd met v few times.

[armaghniac]

If Armagh win, they'll have won the All-Ireland without any of their players having played in an All-Ireland semi-final prior to the All-Ireland winning year.

When's the last time this has happened?

It was Roscommon in 1943.

Dublin 1974?

The question indicates what Armagh are facing and given the rarity of the feat , it must be an advantage for Galway.

Yes, but Roscommon 1943 was also the last time that a Connacht team beat an Ulster one in the final.
It just goes to illustrate the novelty of the game.

True dat! Connaught and Ulster were usually the poor relations in the championship. Commentator was onto Pádraic Joyce how Galway hadn't beat Dublin in the championship in so years years... decades and decades... but Joyce reminded him they'd met v few times.

Either way, one record Roscommon holds for eighty years will be lost!