The most important day within the Gaelic soccer calendar has arrived as Armagh and Galway put together to satisfy in Sunday’s All-Eire Soccer last at Croke Park.
Armagh haven’t received the Sam Maguire since their solely triumph in 2002. For Galway, it has been a 12 months longer since their final title success.
The BBC has you coated for Sunday’s last. It may be watched on BBC Two NI, the BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport web site with protection starting at 15:00 BST, whilst you can pay attention on BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Sounds and the web site with protection once more beginning at 15:00.
The BBC Sport web site can even stay textual content updates, highlights and all of the response from Croke Park.
Like with final week’s hurling, now we have a stellar line-up of pundits readily available to supply their knowledgeable views, and we requested a few of them how Sunday’s recreation will go.
Michael Murphy (Donegal’s 2012 All-Eire-winning captain)
Twelve months in the past, I managed to accurately predict that Dublin would beat Kerry by two factors within the All-Eire last. This time round I’m nonetheless equally as indecisive with my prediction.
I’ve gravitated in the direction of each Armagh and Galway for various causes. Armagh have been hardened by the highs and lows of their journey and can be on condition that additional elevate by the 1000’s who will journey south to Croke Park on Sunday.
It has been 21 years since they have been in an All-Eire last and so they will not be simply crushed, however the nearer we get to the ultimate, I am placing increasingly worth in Galway.
This group has been right here earlier than, simply two years in the past. They’ve the expertise and so they have the system to win this recreation. Even with query marks over the health of Sean Kelly, Damien Comer and Shane Walsh, the type of their different big-game gamers has been merely phenomenal.
Prediction: Galway
Oisin McConville (2002 All-Eire with Armagh)
The groups are evenly matched. There’s been some extent between them within the 4 video games that they’ve performed just lately.
The profitable and the shedding of the sport for Armagh is across the midfield. [Galway goalkeeper Connor] Gleeson coughed up a objective and two factors to us the final day we performed that bought us the draw we would have liked to high the group.
That made an enormous distinction because the competitors has gone on.
Armagh bought two weeks relaxation because of this – and it appeared as if that was one thing we would have liked. Armagh look more energizing now.
Once more, they have to focus on him. You’ve bought to focus on his kick-outs. If Armagh can try this, then it’s as much as the massive males in the midst of the sphere to win the ball.
The one one who retains popping up in my head is Damien Comer. Bodily, I am undecided Armagh have anybody to match him. He wasn’t 100% match the final day. If he’s match, he is extra dynamic than some other ahead Armagh have come up in opposition to.
If we curtail him, Armagh can win the sport.
Prediction: Armagh
Owen Mulligan (three-time All-Eire winner with Tyrone)
The midfield sector is so essential with Galway’s Paul Conroy and Sean Kelly taking up Niall Grimley and Ben Crealey of Armagh. There is definitely energy and tempo there and they’re 4 box-to-box gamers.
With Connor Gleeson and Blaine Hughes’ kick-outs each very correct, that can be a decisive issue.
Barry McCambridge choosing up Shane Walsh can be large as effectively. Walsh has been carrying an harm and McCambridge saved Kerry talisman David Clifford to at least one level from play within the semi-finals so I feel he’ll take a look at Walsh by operating up and down the sphere.
It has been a very long time for each groups. I feel it will be a draw after 70 minutes with Armagh profitable in extra-time.
Prediction: Armagh
Ray Silke (two-time All-Eire winner with Galway)
![Ray Silke lifting the Sam Maguire Cup in 1998 and waving to the crowd in 2023](https://rawnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1722063393_477_BBC-pundits-preview-the-All-Ireland-Football-final.jpeg)
![Ray Silke lifting the Sam Maguire Cup in 1998 and waving to the crowd in 2023](https://rawnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1722063393_477_BBC-pundits-preview-the-All-Ireland-Football-final.jpeg)
Three explanation why Galway will win.
Firstly, I feel Comer, Walsh, Cillian McDaid and Rob Finnerty are extra environment friendly than the Armagh forwards. Assuming Walsh and Comer are injury-free, they may present numerous hassle for Armagh.
Comer hasn’t scored within the final two matches but when he kicks again into kind, Aaron McKay or Barry McCambridge can have their fingers full.
Secondly, the Galway defence has been distinctive all 12 months. The very best margin they’ve conceded all 12 months was 16 factors in opposition to Dublin. In Dylan McHugh and Liam Silke they’ve two excellent half-backs whereas Johnny McGrath and Jack Glynn can be on their approach to All-Stars in the event that they win.
The one objective they’ve conceded in 9 matches was in opposition to Armagh within the group stage, albeit from a kick-out mistake by Connor Gleeson.
Thirdly, it could be the final likelihood for Paul Conroy, who’s 35, Comer and Walsh, who’ve been combating accidents, and possibly even Padraic Joyce and Cian O’Neill themselves. It is their fifth 12 months there. There’s a sense of ‘let’s get this accomplished’, particularly after 2022. They will not take Armagh as a right however I feel Galway will edge it.
Prediction: Galway
Mickey Harte (three-time All-Eire-winning supervisor with Tyrone)
There are such a lot of variables that make predicting this recreation tough.
Can this Armagh group deal with the razzmatazz of being in a last for the primary time?
Can Galway use the damage of two years in the past to their benefit?
Will Shane Walsh, Sean Kelly and Damien Comer be match for Galway?
Their video games are at all times tight. Two years in the past in Croke Park it went all the best way to penalties.
We won’t have penalties on Sunday after all so I feel these two will not be separated after extra-time and we’ll be again to do it once more in a fortnight.
Prediction: Draw