In north Galway, the heartland of Gaelic football, some of the county’s youngest supporters have been gearing up for what could be a nail-biting All-Ireland final against Armagh on Sunday.
From babies to the older people in the community, everyone in Dunmore is rooting for the team.
Dunmore MacHales GAA is Galway goalkeeper Conor Gleeson’s club, while Jack Glynn and Damien Comer also have strong connections with the town.
Galway is looking for their tenth win and always had a Dunmore man on the team when they won an All-Ireland.
The last time they won was 23 years ago, too far back for Dunmore MacHales senior footballer Colm Costello, to remember. He hadn’t even been born.
“Obviously they didn’t win since 2001. I wasn’t around then so it would be great to experience it in Galway. It would just be brilliant if they could do it.
“Its brilliant having Conor on the team, its great to have a representative from Dunmore and its definitely something we all aspire to here is to get to that level.”
One former county player who was fortunate to be around for Galway’s winning moments is Tommy Keenan. He was a member of the panel of the three-in-a-row team in the 1960s. Reminiscing about the past, Tommy said they had a great time, but it was totally different to the approaches now with all the social media.
“In our time it was the papers, they used to print pictures of the players and you’d cut them out to keep with their name, their weight, their height and their age printed on them.”
Regarding Galway as a very savvy and experienced team, Tommy is expecting Galway to come out on top on Sunday.
“They have an excellent goalkeeper, excellent defence and great potential in the attack as well.
“Galway are a seriously good team, and it would take a very good team to beat them,” he said.
Another former county player Marie Breheny who “played football for Galway many years ago” is soaking up all the positivity ahead of the match on Sunday.
“It’s just so important that we celebrate these times and enjoy the build up. We’re all looking forward to the game and God willing they will have good results on Sunday.
“It’s a great year for Galway football, the women’s team are competing in the All-Ireland next weekend, with Dunmore MacHales having their own representative Mairead Glynn,” Marie said.
She is wishing the women well but reiterated that all focus now needs to be on the men and for them all to do the job on Sunday.
Local businesses in town are also getting behind the team. The recently opened Mom’s Café has gone all out with their window display with action shots of footballers in the county colours painted on the windows.
Houses are also draped with flags and bunting while Bridget Coleman has filled her window on the square in Dunmore with memorabilia that belonged to her father Bertie Coleman who was involved in the three-in-a-row team.
“It’s just loads of memorabilia and everything, I started putting out the pictures of all the different teams during Covid because there was nothing else happening on the square.
“So, when something comes up we just put it out, pictures of all the Galway teams that have won over the years,” Bridget said.
In the east of the county in Ballinasloe, the love for Galway football is evident in St Brendan’s Terrace. A sea of maroon and white bunting hangs from every angle criss-crossing the cul-de-sac.
Local resident Craig Carey said he is “worried enough” about the challenge from Armagh after the momentum they’ve been gathering in recent years.
Despite considering Armagh as tough opponents, Craig is optimistic for a win for Galway having been lucky enough to witness the county’s success in the past.
“I was actually there with my mother in 2001 in the Upper Hogan, so I was, I have very, very good memories of it, so I have. So hopefully now Sunday can be another one.”
‘They’ll beat them and they’ll beat them ten times again!’
Caltra is the home club of Declan Meehan, who alongside his brother Tomás, won All-Ireland Senior Football Championship medals with Galway in 1998 and 2001.
“Unbelievable, it’s one of the best feelings you could have as a player, as a footballer,” said Declan, who was regarded as one of the most talented wing backs in the country.
A team mate of Padraic Joyce for many years, Declan believes the Galway manager has what it takes to bring that All Ireland winning feeling back this weekend.
“Padraic had a tremendous confidence in his own ability and I think that’s probably one thing he’s brought into the Galway camp over the last few years, ” added the former All Star.
“They’ll beat them and they’ll beat them ten times again!” is the confident prediction of one of the many young footballers attending the annual football Cúl Camp at Caltra GAA grounds.
With tickets to the big game like gold dust, those who don’t make it to Croke Park on Sunday are being encouraged to come together to cheer Padraic Joyces’ charges on.
Galway City Council, along with Galway GAA, have collaborated to create a Galway Fanzone at Pearse Stadium in Salthill.
The free, ticketed event will see the match shown on a 10m x 6m fully HD screen with a state-of-the-art stadium sound system installed for the event.
Wherever they are watching from, sporting fans across Galway will be hoping that the final whistle on Sunday signals the closing stages of a journey which will see the Tribesmen bring Sam Maguire across the Shannon once again.
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Additional reporting Sally-Ann Barrett