Padraic Joyce

Padraic Joyce has never hid his ambition. From the moment he was appointed Galway manager, he said he wanted to guide them to an All-Ireland title.

It is probably easy to say it was just the stage but ultimately, we didn’t do it whatever the reason. And we were probably very disappointed to be level at half time, albeit Galway had turned the direction of the game and were starting to get the measure of us. “It was a massive jump and the prize at stake is phenomenal. “I thought we were very good early on and controlled a lot of the first twenty minutes. “At the time the kick was taken, I thought it was over the bar. We're here now so we are definitely going to make the most of it,” said Joyce.

In the third year of his reign, Padraic Joyce has guided Galway to a first All-Ireland final in 21 years.

Galway are actually the third most successful team in football in the country. We are going to enjoy tonight, we are going to enjoy the build up for the next two weeks." It's been in the game for many years, it's had its issues but I'll sure they'll iron them out." "Derry have a specific gameplan in the way they play. The way they play, you can't switch off for any second." The problem we had the last day was fellas weren't talking to each other, fellas tuned out, watching the ball instead of their man. "At the time the kick was taken, I thought it was over the bar. But we thought they might stick in Conor Glass or Emmet Bradley and put in a few. It's not that we need a 6ft 7 giant in there, we just tuned out. They eked it out, they put the shoulder to the wheel, worked really, really hard. You are not always going to win a game by kicking 2-19 or 2-20, the most pleasing part is the lads did find a way. We have won it and we have a final to look forward to in two weeks time.

Padraic Joyce celebrates after the game with Cian O'Neill. Image: Ryan Byrne/INPHO. AFTER WATCHING GALWAY seal a return to their first All-Ireland final in 21 ...

We are going to enjoy tonight, we are going to enjoy the build up for the next two weeks, we are going to give one helluva performance here in two weeks time.” We have won it and we have a final to look forward to in two weeks time. “People might say he hadn’t much to do, but Derry are obviously pushing trying to get a score and we caught them on the counter. You are not always going to win a game by kicking 2-19 or 2-20, the most pleasing part is the lads did find a way. They took the hits, they gave the hits, I think they completely snuffed Derry out. The biggest thing for us was trying to get lads mentally back up for today.

As a player, Pádraic Joyce always had a swagger and he brought that to the table immediately when taking on the Galway job.

We got the goal then which I thought was the key turning point in it." "The biggest thing for us was trying to get lads mentally back up for today. In fairness to Shane, they were difficult frees on his left foot, but he struck them really, really well. "They took the hits, they gave the hits, I think they completely snuffed Derry out. "You are not always going to win a game by kicking 2-19 or 2-20, the most pleasing part is the lads did find a way. We're here now so we are definitely going to make the most of it," Joyce said after Saturday's semi-final win over Derry.

PADRAIC JOYCE is nearly there after calling for All-Ireland titles when he took the Galway reins in November 2019.Their year had ended under a c.

“It was a great ball in by John Daly, he turned and stuck it really, really well. The first goal then was a crucial turning point by Damien. He turned his man really, really well. In fairness we did, we tagged a few points on after half-time. He said: “It was a great finish. “They eked it out, they put the shoulder to the wheel, worked really, really hard. But all through, he was very, very good for us. Galway’s run has so many echoes of the past when Joyce was lighting up their attack. Rory Gallagher has the lads in great shape. “I think Derry are a brilliant side, they have had a fantastic year. We're here now so we are definitely going to make the most of it. You have to find a way - whatever goes on. It would be great.

Padraic Joyce wants to remind the country about Galway's footballing pedigree during when the county make their All-Ireland final return.

Galway are actually the third most successful team in football in the country. People might say we've had the easy side of the draw and all this kind of stuff. He won a pair of Celtic crosses with the county during his playing days. However, they were much more effective after the interval as Damien Comer took control of proceedings. They hit rock bottom around a decade ago and have been steadily improving since then. You look at history, Dublin and Kerry are way ahead.