Pádraic Joyce happy with Connacht title from 'hiding to nothing' victory over Sligo

Galway manager Pádraic Joyce was warning of tougher challenges ahead after a one-sided Connacht final victory over Sligo at Hastings Insurance McHale Park.

The Markievicz men, who competed in Allianz League Division 4 in the spring, were big outsiders coming into the game. A bright start saw them move 0-03 to 0-01 ahead, but then Galway took over.

Two Matthew Tierney goals before the break had them breathing easy at eight clear. Sligo briefly cut the gap to seven after half time, but in truth Galway were never in any danger.

The 49th title pushes them one clear of Mayo on the all-time Connacht list, while the defence of their provincial crown is the first time they've managed the feat since 2003.

"You're on a hiding to nothing in these games," Joyce said on RTÉ's Sunday Sport afterwards.

"You have to show up and win the game, and if you don't win it by as much as you're supposed to, you're not great. If you win it by as much as you're supposed to, well you were supposed to.

"It's a funny one. We're just happy to get over the line and win a Connacht Championship."

Paul Conroy's absence was put down to an unspecific injury picked up in training on Thursday.

It gives Joyce something to think about ahead of a baptism of fire in their All-Ireland group stage opener against 2021 All-Ireland champions Tyrone in two weeks' time.

"You're eight points up and the big thing is that lads are playing for positions the next day," Joyce said of his half-time words.

"They had to keep the work-rate up, keep tackling, keep moving the ball around and playing the way we like. In the second half we turned the ball over seven or eight times, which wouldn't be good enough in two weeks' time, no matter who you're playing.

"We're probably clutching at