Pádraic Joyce: 'Our lads will hold no fear of Kerry'

A third year in the Galway hotseat was always going to be crucial for Pádraic Joyce. It was time to deliver.

Another loss to Mayo in Connacht would have been hard to take, particularly in light of Galway's collapse against their neighbours in the 2021 provincial decider. The Tribesmen led by five at half time on a sun-drenched day at Croker but ended up losing by six. No back door was available.

There was pressure then on Joyce to get it right in Castlebar back on 24 April last. They did just that; a one-point win doing little to highlight that they were much better than Mayo on the day. Galway's year was up and running.

A Connacht title followed. Joyce's men then shed their tag of being the possessors of a soft underbelly, hard-fought wins over Armagh and Derry in contrasting circumstances going some way to scotching that perception. And now it's a first All-Ireland final appearance in 21 years for Galway. Kerry are the opposition. On paper it has the potential to be classic contest, with both sides possessing a formidable attacking threat. Throw in a defensive solidity that both have worked on in recent times and further intrigue is added.

Of the games played between the sides in the 1950s and 60s, Mick O'Dwyer spoke about Galway being Kerry's bête noire in All-Ireland finals - an itch the Kingdom couldn't scratch. There would seem to be no fear of football's aristocrats out west.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport ahead of Sunday's Croke Park showdown, Pádraic Joyce, while acutely aware of Kerry's stature, will certainly be leading a squad who won't be bending the knee.

"Our lads will hold no fear of Kerry, they respect them, don't get me wrong, but they definitely hold no fear," said the two-time All-Ireland winner from 1998 and 2001.

"