McGeeney and Joyce set for Croke Park day of destiny

One of the jewels in the Irish sporting crown comes along on Sunday afternoon as Armagh and Galway square off in the 2024 All-Ireland Football Championship Final in Croke Park.

Changes to the GAA schedule mean it has been shifted from its traditional September slot to the final Sunday in July, but any All-Ireland final day in the famous Jones' Road venue will remain a coveted event.

Here at Bet In Ireland, we are eagerly awaiting this novel showdown, the first ever between Armagh and Galway in a final, and we're taking a deeper look at one of the key narratives for the clash in Croke Park that will enthral 82,000 spectators in Dublin and millions more around the world looking in.

While on the field, 30 players will line out for battle over 70 minutes – and perhaps more if extra-time is required – it's a fascinating battle too on the sidelines between the respective managers.

McGeeney vs. Joyce for Sam Maguire - Armagh ready to seize the moment

In the dugouts on Sunday afternoon will be Kieran McGeeney and Padraic Joyce, both desperate to lead their respective county to the ultimate glory. They've been here before, as players, of course, both crowed All-Ireland Senior Football Championship winners in their decorated careers.

McGeeney captained Armagh to their only All-Ireland win in 2002, a slender one-point win over Kerry. He's been at the helm for the Orchard County for almost a decade now, and after some early stumbles in the bear pit that is the Ulster Championship, Geezer has brought Armagh to the precipice of the biggest prize in the sport.

The Ulster final loss to Donegal this summer might have broken a lesser bunch. It meant Armagh had lost four penalty shoot-outs in championship football in just three years. An unheralded level of near misses.

They regrouped, they came back again stronger and now find themselves a potential 70 minutes from immortality in orange. McGeeney's own mental fortitude is the stuff of legend. Ahead of Sunday's showdown, his main message to the Armagh panel is never to die wondering. "Every game takes on a life of its own and the biggest thing you try and say to the players – listen, give it your best shot, don't have any regrets," McGeeney told a pre-final press event.

"You'll regret not trying stuff more than trying stuff and failing."

Joyce doing what is necessary

Padraic Joyce too has tasted Sam Maguire success as a player and now he wants to do it as Galway manager. The Tribesmen have been waiting 23 years to sample All-Ireland glory, since Joyce kicked 10 points in their one-sided 2001 victory over Meath, his second title in the maroon and white jersey.

On that occasion, Galway were underdogs, so Joyce will be taking nothing for granted on the basis that bookmakers have his side down as the likely winners on Sunday.

He knows first-hand that it is what happens on the day that decides the fates of would-be All-Ireland winners. When Joyce took over as boss his intention was for Galway's tradition of attractive football to be the mantra, but it hasn't worked out that way. He had to recalibrate, to admit that a more steely and stubborn approach would be required.

The resulting change has witnessed the emergence of a Galway team that can win ugly, as well as with panache. They are battle-hardened now, with the physical attributes to step out into the arena against a side like Armagh that will have no qualms engaging in a prolonged arm-wrestle for the big prize.

"What we have looked to get into Galway is a bit more of an edge because we would probably have been seen as having a soft centre over the years, but I think the lads have proved over the last couple of years that there is a good edge to them and they can mix the game either way they want," said the Galway boss.

The closest of rivals

These sides know each other well. They played a group stage game in Sligo that ended level last month. Armagh picked off a last-gasp score that afternoon for the stalemate that made sure they topped that group, a moral victory in every way as it was a game that Galway dominated for large periods.

There have been three Championship games in 2022, 2023 and 2024 between these teams, and only a point separates them in general play across the three matches. It's a wafer-thin margin and, of course, one of the key factors contributing to the GAA betting for this Croke Park showdown, finding the teams very hard to split. Galway are nominal favourites, but Armagh aren't likely to go down without a fight.

Joyce's predictive text rings true

In the aftermath of a hard-fought semi-final win over Donegal, the Galway boss revealed he'd sent a text to his Armagh counterpart following the drawn game in Sligo that sent their teams on separate paths to a possible All-Ireland final appearance.

Joyce, it was acknowledged by both bosses, had suggested something along the lines of 'see you in the final' to McGeeney.

At times since, it didn't always look likely. Galway trailed Dublin by four at half-time in their quarter-final, while Armagh were down the same margin at half-time in their semi-final with Kerry.

Only the most ardent follower of either county could have retained complete faith at times in those encounters. And yet, here they are, standing on the edge of greatness. One game, one win from the biggest prize of all.

Galway may have the edge

Who will seize the moment? Much depends on the attitude. In that drawn game in Sligo in June, Armagh's willingness to stand off Galway almost took the game away from them. The Tribesmen must still ponder how they let it slip.

If All-Star midfielder Cillian McDaid and would-be Footballer of the Year Dylan McHugh are on their games come Sunday, the men from the west may exhibit an accurate running game that punctures even the resolutely stubborn Armagh rearguard.

This Armagh side has been feted to some painful near misses, and with Galway having sampled an All-Ireland final two years ago, they may have the requisite big-game experience to rob the Orchard.

Stay tuned for more weekly sports content.

✒️ Enda McElhinney – GAA Betting Expert

Enda McElhinney is an Irish-based sportswriter, specialising in written content on the GAA, horse racing and football. He has more than a decade of experience across many publications, bringing a wealth of knowledge and betting nous to his craft. When he isn't at this desk or the racecourse, he loves to unwind on the golf course – though sometimes that can be more stressful than working!