Galway boss Paraic Joyce has confirmed that former footballer of the year Paul Conroy has committed to the senior panel for the 2026 season.
Joyce has seen his squad peppered with early season injuries and Galway lost Liam Silke in the warm up before Saturday night’s thrilling draw with All-Ireland champions Kerry. But after watching his team fight back from a 12-point second half deficit, Joyce confirmed that his totemic midfielder will be back with the panel shortly and has committed to another season in maroon.
“We’ve been chatting all along and now Paul Conroy is back and committed for the year. He obviously needed a bit of time, he has two young kids and a very supportive wife in Caroline so now he has committed and glad to be back.”
Galway are at home to Connacht rivals Roscommon next week but there’s no prospect yet of Conroy making himself available for that one – “he hasn’t a whole pile done, he’s not 21 any more, so we have to mind him,” Joyce said.
The Galway boss said he was in no way surprised by his players’ refusal to accept defeat in Tralee, but their error-prone ways continue to be a frustration.
“Look it’s great how we kept the show on the road, 10 points down with 17 minutes to go. But it’s disappointing again the way we dropped stuff short, sometimes you’d be wondering what you are looking at. We gifted Kerry 2-4 or 2-5 in the first half but you can’t fault the lads for heart and effort.
“We are down with so many players as well, couple of lads did well last week, but they couldn’t travel today, Dylan McHugh had a bit of a knock and couldn’t start and we lost Liam Silke in the warm up.”
One man who did himself a lot of favours was Dunmore’s Shane McGrath who finished with 0-5 and nailed the two-point equaliser in the final minute. “He was on the panel a few years ago, didn’t make it then but he went away and got himself right and has done himself and his club proud tonight – he was outstanding,” Joyce added.
Kerry boss Jack O’Connor expressed his disappointment that the All-Ireland champions couldn’t close the deal for their second League win.
“At one stage we were 12 points up. We picked away, got a few scores against the wind in the second half, and were still eight points up with eight to go. That second (Cian Hernon) goal on the turnover was a killer, because it gave Galway a bit of energy.”
O’Connor added: “The referee was allowing a lot of contact tonight so taking the ball into contact wasn’t the wisest thing. We were in control of the game, but turnovers are huge in the modern game, you’re better off kicking the ball wide. We just needed to manage the game a bit better.” O’Connor is stil without 8-9 established starters and said it’s tricky trying to integrate lads back into the set-up, get minutes into lads’ legs and maintain a Division 1 push.
“We are down a good lot of players, so it’s a bit of a balancing act. But fair dues to Galway, they showed good heart and they’re after getting three points from two tough away games.”
The Kerry manager added that the Dingle players are expected back training next week. Killian Spillane missed out in Tralee with a hip issue, his manager said.
