Armagh need to set traps to exploit Connor Gleeson

Connor Gleeson has only conceded one goal in nine championship matches en route to this afternoon's All-Ireland football final, but Armagh will still believe they can target Galway's last line of defence.

Aside from their four meetings with Armagh, Galway have conceded just five goals in their last 18 championship matches stretching back to the start of the 2022 campaign, with Gleeson in excellent form this season in particular.

Nevertheless with him as number one the two counties have faced each other on four occasions over the past three years, with Armagh scoring a remarkable 5-03 off long balls in and around his square and short kickout interceptions.

Without the concession of those scores, Galway would have won three of the games comfortably and drawn the other rather than losing it.

Instead they lost in last year's championship, drew earlier this year, won their league encounter in 2023 and the 2022 quarter-final between the sides finished level after normal time.

So far this year Gleeson has had to deal with 18 dropped shots or long passes landing in his zone. He's fisted one away with conviction, palmed another over the bar, and claimed the other 16 confidently.

Demonstrating the improvements the former League of Ireland soccer goalkeeper has made under the high ball, and likewise the Galway defenders tasked with protecting him.

Nevertheless, as Galway will take confidence from Gleeson's impressive overall statistics, the Orchard County will take encouragement from the recent experience of their own head to head battles against the Tribesmen.

In the 2022 quarter-final three goals and a point came off long balls sent into Galway's last line of defence.

Rian O'Neill hung one up from 50 metres, with the Galway players