Galway Ladies' footballers kick off their All-Ireland campaign away to 2025 runners-up Meath in Stamullen this Sunday afternoon.
The Tribeswomen are in Group 4 alongside Meath and Ulster runners-up Tyrone. The top two in each group advances to the All-Ireland quarter-finals, with the group toppers getting home advantage.
Daniel Moynihan's side return to action for the first time since they claimed their third successive Connacht crown against Mayo last month. The Tribeswomen weathered a late Mayo revival to win by 1-11 to 0-11 in Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada. Galway would have been getting flashbacks to their Lidl NFL Division 1 final defeat to Cork the month before where they surrendered two late goals as Cork ran out five-point winners.
But they remained resolute to secure yet another Connacht title. Galway impressed throughout the league campaign and that loss in the final would have stung. Moynihan will be determined to focus on the positives. Convincing victories over Dublin and Armagh were highlights.
Galway already played and beat Meath this year when they faced them in their opening fixture of the league in January. The Tribeswomen won by 0-16 to 0-8 and Kate Slevin starred as she scored seven points, including becoming the first inter-county player to score a two-pointer in Ladies Senior Football.
Galway will look to right the wrongs of last season's All-Ireland campaign where they fell to eventual winners Dublin in the semi-final. Following their performances in the league, they have the tools to put it up to any team in the country. A place in the final at Croker has to be the target.
Throw-in at St Patrick's GFC in Stamullen is 2pm on Sunday.
