Micheál Donoghue’s return as Galway senior hurling manager can already be graded a solid B grade on a report card, regardless of what happens from this point forward. Given where the team stood last year to where they are now, Donoghue Part Deux has already been a clear success.
Division One status is secured for 2026, and Galway came within a single win (away to Cork ) of reaching a league final. After a sluggish championship opener, four straight wins have quickly erased the memory of that Kilkenny defeat from the minds of Galway supporters.
To improve further, a Leinster final win over Kilkenny and a spot in the All-Ireland semi-finals would see Donoghue upgraded to an A. A loss in the provincial decider followed by a quarter-final victory would likely still justify a B+. But reach the All-Ireland final - win, lose, or draw - and it’s an A+ campaign all the way.
Dublin hoodoo ended
Last Sunday’s clash with Dublin carried historical weight. Galway had lost three of their last six championship meetings with the Dubs and had never beaten them on home soil in championship warfare. Add in a transitional squad under new Galway management, who oversaw that very county just a year ago, and the scale of the task was significant.
So, for Galway to look so composed and comfortable, against a team that beat them by six points in the same fixture last year, was heartening. The final score even flattered Dublin, as late goals from Seán Currie and Conal O’Rian masked what was a one-sided contest.
Galway bossed the middle third and strong defensive performances from the likes of Padraic Mannion, Fintan Burke and TJ Brennan nullified a dangerous opposition forward unit and the defensive structure has improved game on game.
Much of the narrative this season has focused on Galway’s overreliance on Cathal Mannion. But in Parnell Park, his teammates stepped up emphatically. Brian Concannon (0-5 ), Tom Monaghan (0-4 ), and David Burke (0-3 ) were all excellent, while captain Conor Whelan (0-3 ) appears revitalised in his new half-forward role.
Now, a familiar foe awaits in the Leinster final – none other than the kingpins from Kilkenny. Galway have not lifted the Bob O’Keeffe Cup since 2018 and certainly owe the Cats one. But overturning a team chasing six-in-a-row will require yet another step up in terms of performance.
Galway will rightly be rated as underdogs pre-match. But if history has taught us anything, that is often when they are most dangerous. Pull off the upset, and Donoghue’s report card jumps from good to great.
Must-win territory for footballers
The 'Group of Death' could aptly spell the end of the road for Galway’s footballers if they do not get a result against Derry away on Sunday. A loss could mean that even defeating Armagh in the final round robin fixture may not be enough to guarantee progression. Against Derry, Galway simply must win. It doesn’t matter how or why. The result is all that matters.
Derry’s form and performances have dipped drastically since last year’s Division One title, but they remain dangerous, especially at home, with talents like Shane McGuigan, Brendan Rogers, and Conor Glass in their ranks. You can be sure they circled this tie against the Connacht champions as a key target when the draw was made.
Despite a flat showing against Dublin, Galway could still have taken something from the game. Poor decision-making and defensive lapses gifted the visitors cheap scores that proved decisive in that one.
The clash in Derry will be no easy task especially in front of a raucous home support, but Galway should have the experience, gained under Joyce, to cope with the pressure and atmosphere. Factor in their superior squad depth and individual quality, and they should have enough to get over the line. They must because their season hangs in the balance.
Farewell to a GAA giant
If you played in a hurling final in recent decades, there is a strong chance Dermot Flaherty was there to capture the moment. His vast video archive became a treasured part of the GAA community in Galway and beyond. His Facebook page, filled with old clips and highlights, offered a wonderful portal to the past.
But Dermot was more than just a cameraman. If you attended a fixture in Gort, you would see him at the heart of things, coordinating, organising, contributing within his local community. Even as his battle with cancer progressed, he remained a constant at Galway fixtures. An ever-present volunteer. His passion never waned.
Dermot Flaherty personified the best of the GAA: community, commitment, and quiet generosity. He will be sorely missed at pitches across the county and beyond. May he rest in peace.
