Is it too early to be talking about a possible football and hurling double? Almost certainly. But where’s the fun in being sensible?
Five more wins — three in football and two in hurling — and Sam and Liam will be heading back across the Shannon as part of a famous double. Should that, admittedly, unlikely dream become reality, Galway would be in for a celebration unlike anything seen in the county for generations. Work would be forgotten, productivity would collapse and normal life would be put on hold for a week or two.
It’s nice to dream but, at this juncture, most Galway supporters would happily settle for one final appearance and a shot at lifting a Celtic Cross. Even allowing for the fact that the footballers have an extra hurdle to clear, it’s fair to say they appear the better placed of the county’s two teams to go all the way.
They have contested two All-Ireland finals in recent years and can draw on that experience. The age profile of the squad is also edging towards now-or-never territory, ensuring motivation will hardly be in short supply — as if any extra incentive were needed when an All-Ireland title is within touching distance.
The draw has also been kind. While several of the other fancied contenders are likely to emerge battle-scarred from difficult quarter-finals, Galway have the luxury of putting their feet up this weekend and preparing for the last eight, while Kerry, Armagh and Donegal all have sticky ties to come through and will be playing three weeks on the bounce when the quarter-finals roll around.
Perhaps most importantly of all, key figures such as Shane Walsh and Damien Comer are enjoying their best run of fitness in years. That looked far from certain, particularly in Comer’s case after a nightmare spell with injuries that at times cast serious doubt over his playing future. Having both available and firing significantly strengthens Galway’s hopes of mounting a genuine challenge for Sam Maguire.
Signs of promise
Walsh, apart from a couple of ambitious efforts that fell short, looked somewhere near his devastating best, while Comer provided a real spark from the bench. Add in a man-of-the-match display from the ever-improving Cein D’Arcy, the leadership of John Maher, Seán Kelly and Matthew Tierney, and the all-action contribution of Cian Hernon, and there was an awful lot to like about Galway’s performance.
Overall, the word I would use to describe Galway’s display against Westmeath is mature. There remains room for improvement in several areas — most notably their kick-out strategy — but at no stage did it feel as though the Leinster champions were capable of seriously threatening them. Galway kept Westmeath at arm’s length throughout and managed the game with impressive composure.
It was an unusual occasion at a sold-out Pearse Stadium, with Galway forced to contend with a large and vocal travelling support. Being outnumbered on your own patch is never ideal and attendances remain a concern for Galway teams in Salthill. However, once Galway struck for their first goal, they were professionalism personified against a side that arrived brimming with confidence and momentum.
Galway have done everything asked of them so far and now find themselves just 70 minutes from an All-Ireland semi-final. Whoever emerges from next weekend's Round 3 fixtures, the challenges are about to become considerably more difficult. But it’s clear the westerners have ample room for improvement on what we’ve seen so far, and the hope is that they’re timing their run to perfection.
Football’s back
Finally, whatever happens from here, the 2026 championship has already been a tremendous success. The new rules and revamped format have injected jeopardy, excitement and unpredictability back into Gaelic football and it’s currently leaving hurling in the ha’penny place.
Last weekend alone was proof of that. Louth's dramatic victory over Ulster champions Armagh was the standout result of the year and another remarkable chapter in the Wee County's resurgence. Previously they had ended a 53-year wait for a championship victory over Dublin and now they have followed it up by toppling one of the favourites for Sam Maguire.
Throw in Cork's shock win over Donegal, Westmeath's Leinster success, Roscommon’s triumph in Connacht and the drama that has unfolded almost every weekend, it is difficult to remember a more enjoyable championship.
For years football was rightly criticised for being boring and predictable. Nobody could level that accusation at the game now. The result has been a championship that feels alive again and, perhaps most importantly of all, every team remaining genuinely believes it can go all the way. A sure sign of a competition and sport in rude health.
