Padraic Joyce: Galway's Connacht win means a lot amid 'troublesome' year

Ecstatic Galway manager Padraic Joyce admitted their dramatic Connacht final victory over Mayo meant a huge amount to both players and management in light of the criticism they'd shipped in 2024.

Three injury-time frees saw Galway pip their traditional rivals at the death in Salthill, sometimes maligned goalkeeper Connor Gleeson striding forward to nail the winning free from outside the 45 to claim a famous one-point win.

Joyce, irked by the narrative surrounding his adverse managerial record against Mayo and at pains to note it was their third Connacht title victory in succession, paid tribute to his players for their perseverance over an injury-hit spring, singling out the match-winning keeper in particular.

"It means an awful lot to me personally, it means a lot to the players, more so because of the stick we have got all year. It's been a troublesome year for us," Joyce told RTÉ Sport's Damien O'Meara.

"Our backs have been to the wall since January with injuries and a bit of form, but one thing I’ve always said about these players is I’d never, ever question the character in them.

"The game looked to be gone there, we were two points down and three wonderful scores to win it.

"Connor Gleeson probably gets so much unfair criticism in this county about kickouts and whatnot, but absolutely a man of steel there at the end. Ice in the brain. Two super kicks. Unbelievable."

Prior to this afternoon, Joyce as manager had only won one from eight matches against Mayo across league and championship, the 2022 Connacht opener in MacHale Park.

The Galway boss said he was acutely conscious of the narrative and the pressure surrounding him.

"Of course you are aware of it. When lads go writing articles about Padraic Joyce only beating Mayo