'Football needed this' - Padraic Joyce revelling in novel All-Ireland decider

The age of empires is over - we think. Early noughties here we come.

We know now that a gap of two decades plus will be bridged for whoever wins Sam Maguire in a fortnight's time.

Not exactly the curse of Biddy Early being dispatched but in the context of modern football, pretty trippy stuff.

"I think football needs this," said Padráic Joyce, when asked about the 'novel' decider, the first ever meeting of Galway and Armagh in the showpiece.

The pair have, however, been running into each other with increasing regularity in the All-Ireland series.

There was that wild and chaotic quarter-final in 2022 which ended in penalties and prompted words of disapproval from the then Taoiseach and Minister of Sport the following day.

The last two years have seen them lumped together in the group phase, facing off in Round 3 in both years. Armagh finished the two matches in a state of jubilation, even if they didn't manage to actually win the game this year.

The draw was enough for them to nab top spot and the direct route to the quarter-final, and it looked highly unlikely they'd manage as much after an insipid first half performance.

In the wake of that draw in Markievicz Park, which didn't exactly leave the neutrals gasping for more, did Joyce foresee the two teams meeting again in the All-Ireland final?

"Well if you ask Kieran McGeeney next week what was texted to him that night, that will answer the question for you," he replied cryptically.

What was texted to him?

(Pause) "Ask him."

McGeeney, having cast several monkeys off his back, was pretty relaxed and forthcoming and may well decide to show the press corps said text, if asked.

Galway were three from three against Armagh in championship until the present decade, Joyce part of a team which