Galway v Kerry: Roads to the All-Ireland final

Just shy of 21 years, Padraic Joyce has once again returned Galway to an All-Ireland final. This time, he's in the dugout and not at 14, the jersey he made his own during a stellar playing career for the Tribesmen.

Kerry were last in the final back in 2019, a defeat to Dublin ending their hopes of winning a 38th All-Ireland title. They are back in the big time once again with Jack O’Connor at the helm looking to win their first Sam Maguire since 2014.

But what paths have these teams taken to get here? Here they are:

Galway

Finishing level on points with their Connacht rivals Roscommon, Galway would go on to lose the Allianz National League Division 2 decider to the Rossies in Croke Park.

After being relegated by Monaghan the previous year, Galway bounced straight back up with promotion. They won six out of their seven league games, with a solitary defeat in the final game against Roscommon proving only a blip.

24 April 2022 - Connacht quarter-final: Mayo 0-16 Galway 1-14

Galway were underdogs going into this clash with their eternal rivals Mayo, losing the last three championship outings before this. McHale Park was the venue but that didn’t faze the Tribesmen, as Shane Walsh kicked three frees and two '45s combined with 1-01 from Johnny Heaney and three from play from Paul Conroy.

Mayo were left trailing by a fast start from Galway, Joyce’s side leading 1-04 to 0-02 before the Yew County kicked seven of the next nine to go in level at half-time.

After the restart, James Carr made it eight from 10 as Mayo moved in front. Galway reeled off six points without reply before Mayo inevitably thundered back into the reckoning.

Galway demonstrated great resolve which would have delighted Joyce and his management team, to hold on and claim