Galway's senior footballers get their All-Ireland campaign underway this Saturday evening when they take on Kildare at Pearse Stadium.
The Tribesmen will be looking to get off to a winning start when they face the Lilywhites for the first time competitively since 2018. Kildare have not beaten Galway at senior level since 1985.
Pádraig Joyce's men will have to get over the disappointment of their Connacht SFC final defeat to Roscommon quickly. Having been six-points to the good with less than 10 minutes to play, seeing the Rossies lift the Nestor Cup would have stung. But Joyce was quick to shift his focus ahead to the "bigger picture"post-match, that big prize being the Sam Maguire.
The return of Shane Walsh, Sean Kelly and Damien Comer to match fitness is a massive boost for the Tribesmen going into the All-Ireland series. However, Joyce will be without Sean Fitzgerald, who this week stepped away from the panel as rumours of an appearance on reality TV show Love Island continue to gain momentum.
Galway will want to lay down their marker straight away. Kildare qualified for this year's All-Ireland series by winning the Tailteann Cup last year. Their Leinster SFC campaign was ended in the semi-final to now-champions Westmeath by four points.
The Tribesmen should have enough to get into Round 2A. Win that Round 2A game, and they will book their spot in the quarter-finals. Getting that place wrapped up as quick as possible, without any hiccups, will be top of Joyce's agenda.
Throw-in at Pearse Stadium is 7.30pm this Saturday
