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Irish Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
‘Meath and Tyrone's swagger make them dangerous': Michael Meehan won't rule out semis surprise
Michael Meehan does not believe it is a formality the two All-Ireland senior football semi-finals will necessarily play out as expected this weekend. Kerry (v Tyrone ) and Donegal (v Meath ) are both tipped to advance from their respective fixtures but Meehan wouldn't be surprised if the weekend produced an upset or two. 'There are going to be two obvious favourites but I don't think you could rule Meath or Tyrone out, to be honest,' says the former Galway forward. 'The championship has kind of taken on a script of its own and I wouldn't rule out a surprise because I just think the momentum and the freshness of youth and the swagger that we know Meath and Tyrone teams bring when they get a few big results make them dangerous opponents. READ MORE 'Yes, they'll both come in as underdogs but that will probably suit them and I think we're set up for two massive games. 'To see what Kerry did against Armagh was absolutely phenomenal and it's probably ominous, but at the same time Tyrone always raise their game when they play Kerry. 'As for Donegal, they have been very impressive but again I'm old enough to remember Meath teams in the 90s and when the green and gold are on the Hill you just get that sense of a traditional county back at the business end of things again. 'Meath are a big footballing county and they're back now probably where they feel they should be. I suppose they'll feel they've woken from their slumber.' Meath's progress to this stage of the championship came at the expense of Meehan's native Galway – with the Royals beating Pádraic Joyce's Tribesmen in a quarter-final two weeks ago . Joyce was non-committal on his future when asked about it after that defeat but Meehan hopes he remains at the helm for a seventh season. Either way, Meehan believes the call on whether to stick or shift will be Joyce's alone. 'I think he deserves the right to make his own mind up on it and I'm sure that's how it will go,' says Meehan. Former Galway footballer Michael Meehan. Photograph: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile 'I suppose with everything that they've done as a group I don't see an appetite for change, really. They have obviously looked to bring in different coaches over the years and add players to the playing group as well. 'You always need to continue evolving and changing. It will be another year down the line under the new rules; there's a chance now to reassess and say, 'Okay, what can we do better, what do we need to improve?' 'Every coach is going to be doing that because everything is so new. We are seeing patterns of play develop now but it's still very early in terms of the whole development of teams and their styles of play under the new rules. So, there are challenges there but I think it's something he'd like to be part of.' One of the constant frustrations of Galway's season was the inability again to get both Damien Comer and Shane Walsh on the pitch and fully fit at the same time. Comer's impact when introduced off the bench against Meath in the latter stages of the quarter-final demonstrated the havoc he could have caused if injury did not curtail his involvement in 2025. Walsh did manage to play more football than Comer but again the season wasn't without its challenges for him and not having their two best forwards injury-free this year was difficult for Galway. 'It definitely would have an impact on the group but I suppose it's not a new thing for this squad either,' adds Meehan. Galway's Damien Comer at the final whistle of the quarter-final against Meath. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho 'Pádraic would have been at pains to point that out and try move on from it. But it still would have an impact on the group because when the new rules were announced and you were wondering who's going to benefit the most out of this, you'd be looking at the Galway forward division. 'But while Shane did manage to put a string of games together, Damien never got going at all. Just everything was so stop-start for him, he played so few minutes in the league and similar in the championship. 'I feel Damien definitely would have excelled with the new rules so hopefully we will get to see him in full flow next year.' The fear in Galway is that this group of players is now on the verge of missing their chance at getting hold of Sam Maguire. Having contested two of the last three finals, there was a sense that this season might see Galway get over the line but the quarter-final loss to Meath raises fresh doubts if they will ever manage to climb the steps of the Hogan Stand. But Meehan still feels there is an All-Ireland in this Galway squad. 'It was an opportunity for everyone to kind of step up and grasp it this year because there was no outstanding candidate, but that has come and gone for Galway. 'But that opportunity will be there for teams again next year. I'm sure Galway will add to the group in terms of players, try improve performances and keep developing.' Michael Meehan was speaking as part of Solgar's Golden Moments campaign. Solgar, a leading provider of high-quality nutritional supplements, earlier this year announced a three-year partnership to become the official vitamin partner of the GAA and GPA.
The 42
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
'There will be a huge appetite to go again' - Galway's recovery from shock All-Ireland exit
FORMER GALWAY FOOTBALLER Michael Meehan is confident that Pádraic Joyce's squad will recover from their shock All-Ireland exit and be competitive in 2026. Galway, who contested last year's All-Ireland final, were dumped out of the championship by Meath at the weekend after an error-strewn performance. Poor handling, decision-making, and shot selection contributed to Galway's demise in Croke Pa But despite the manner of their quarter-final defeat, Meehan still believes Galway can reload for another charge at Sam Maguire next year, having reached the finals in 2022 and 2024. 'I think there will be a huge appetite and desire to go at it again. There's still the bones of a very strong squad there. It's that initial getting over the losses and moving on. When things start being lined up again, probably next October or November, that's when it all has to start in earnest, straight back into it in the league next year.' A disappointed Damien Comer after Galway's All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Meath. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO Meehan pointed to players like Céin D'Arcy and John Maher who have reignited their inter-county careers under Joyce's watch. D'Arcy has been particularly effective in the air at kickout time while Maher has continued to maintain his high standards after winning an All-Star last year. Advertisement Rising star Matthew Thompson has also impressed Meehan this year. After captaining the Galway U20s last year, Thompson broke through to the senior team in 2025, bringing a big boost to the forward line in the absence of the injured Damien Comer. 'He's been fantastic,' says Meehan. 'A breath of fresh air. An amazing player for his age and how he grew into the role.' Meehan continued by drawing a comparison between Thompson and former Galway forward, Paul Clancy, who was part of the squad who won two All-Irelands in 1998 and 2001. 'He just reminds me a little bit of Paul Clancy. He had a similar left foot where he could just find a pass and maybe no one else could find or see. He's a hugely exciting prospect for Galway. 'From game one all the way on, he just brought a little bit more each day to get him to the stage there. In the last few games where he probably has one of the most touches on the ball, he's trusted to carry ball, to link up play, to make the right decisions. We saw his pass for Shane's goal in the last game against Down as an example. He's done umpteen of those passes.' Michael Meehan was speaking as part of Solgar's Golden Moments campaign. Solgar, a leading provider of high-quality nutritional supplements is the official vitamin partner of the GAA/GPA and partner of the GAA Museum. Meehan can relate to Comer's injury frustrations having suffered with ankle, knee and shoulder issues throughout his own career with Galway. The Annaghdown forward made a notable contribution off the bench against Meath on Sunday, but Meehan laments the disruptions that Comer has suffered again this season. 'You'd be disappointed for Damien because he'd be a senior player in that group. He's one of the leaders of the group. It hasn't been straightforward for a number of years now. 'This year has been very difficult for him. I know from personal experience, [that] it's a difficult time when you're sidelined at length. You just can't get involved. 'I was delighted that he did make a big impact in the game with scores and assists and turnovers. He got fouled for a free as well. He contributed an awful lot. 'You'd love to have seen him for longer on Sunday and all the other days. But it's been difficult for him managing the injuries. He has played so little this year, I'd say, probably more than any year.' Joyce has completed his sixth season as manager of the Galway footballers but has firmly said he will not be making 'any rash decisions' about his future. The role of veteran midfielder Paul Conroy has also changed this year, coming on as an impact sub at times including the Meath game. Meehan declined to speculate on what either might do for next season but says the entire group will use the club championship to reset before making any calls on the 2026 campaign. 'I suppose the hardest days are the few straight after a tough loss like that. 'But they'll all go back playing club championship. You just don't know what people will do and what they're prepared to sign up to when everything settles down. There's a bit of time off now or certainly time away from the county scene for the Galway players.'
