Niall Gartland canvasses the opinion of three GAA journalists for their opinion on the big game.

MICHAEL FOLEY (Sunday Times)

FIRST things first, I think this is a good final pairing at the end of a pretty terrible championship. I’ve been doing this since 1998 and I would seriously say it’s been the worst championship we’ve ever watched – I think it’s been shocking.

The semi-finals were decent in fairness, and what I liked about them is that both Galway and Armagh had to go out and win those games. They had to make something happen and they did, and that was fantastic to see.

That attitude will be key again on Sunday – who will take the game by the scruff of the neck? Galway were gone against Dublin at half-time but they came out in the second half and were excellent. It’s the same with Armagh, they were five points down in the second half against Kerry and I was thinking ‘if Kerry get one more point it’s curtains’. But by the end of normal time there was only one winner and that was a hugely impressive turnaround from Armagh.

There’s been question marks about Armagh’s conviction or self-belief, but getting across the All-Ireland quarter-final against Roscommon was a big step in itself and they presumably figured that Kerry might wobble down the stretch and that’s how it came to pass.

I love the idea that they’re not a team of stars, and they’ve bought into the idea under Kieran McGeeney that they’ll all capable of making the next guy better. That’s what stood out for me against Kerry – Rian O’Neill was exceptional but it was by no means the only one and I was seriously impressed by the likes of Aidan Forker, who came good when they really needed him, their corner-backs were excellent and they got a bounce off their bench which Kerry didn’t get.

If you take Galway, I think it’s been underplayed a little bit that they were in an All-Ireland as recently as two years ago and that they’ve been winning Connacht titles.

I’ve been fairly impressed with them and how could you not be – Dylan McHugh and Paul Conroy are in the running for Footballer of the Year, John Maher has carried his Connacht form into the All-Ireland series, and John Daly isn’t mentioned much but he’s such a good centre back.

They lost out in the 2022 All-Ireland final and I think that brings a different type of hunger. They know it’s a long way back and now they’re in another final, they won’t want to screw it up.

Their method is good but they have the flair players up front and on the day I think they’ll probably have a little too much for Armagh – but I tell you what, if Armagh are still in the game coming down the stretch, it could get very interesting in the last 10 minutes. That’s the thing about games these days – you could nearly scrap the first 60 minutes and ‘we’ll play the last 10 minutes and see how it goes’.

Verdict: Galway

DERMOT CROWE (Sunday Independent)

BOTH teams are deserving finalists and are there in merit, as finalists usually are.

I’m expecting a close match, in line with the last three championship meetings which ended in a draw, a one-point win for Armagh and a penalty shoot-out. We could be waiting a while for the teams to take the gloves off with the likelihood of a cautious, risk-averse opening period.

Galway have conceded just one goal, to Armagh, in the entire championship. Leaving aside the opening rout of London, they have been averaging just under one goal a game themselves – but they have shown good game management skills when needed to close out matches. In a strong middle third, John Maher has a big presence.

Armagh, meanwhile, have a steeliness earned from some tough defeats, including this year’s Ulster final, and come off a win over Kerry that was one of the results of the championship. They have good bench impact and won’t fear Galway. Ultimately, Galway may be able to generate more scores out of their attack, and their backs can nullify the Armagh forwards enough to win.

Both teams have players who can cause damage. Shane Walsh, provided he has no more injury mishaps, is capable of producing on the big day and Damien Comer could hit a season’s best as he has been subdued. Cillian McDaid is another potential game-changer. Armagh have an in-form Rian O’Neill and Conor Turbitt, and can hope for improvement from Oisin Conaty, while Niall Grimley has also stood out in the middle of the field.

When push comes to shove, I think Galway will prevail by a point or two. The experience of playing in a final two years ago should benefit them, and if their injuries aren’t an issue then there is scope for their forwards to improve. But Armagh stand an excellent chance, and are in a good place mentally, not unlike where Clare were coming into the hurling final last Sunday. They are not going to lie down easily.

Verdict: Galway

MAURICE BROSNAN (Irish Examiner)

IN the past I’ve spoken about the current structure and how it doesn’t guarantee us getting the best final because the provincial championship is an impediment to that, but in saying that when you look at the formlines of both teams, I think we do have the best two teams in the final this year.

One overcame Kerry, the other beat Dublin so I don’t think there’ll be any talk of a soft All-Ireland and both Armagh and Galway have been remarkably consistent across the season.

It’s such a novel pairing and I get that sense that people are more optimistic about the game than they usually are. Personally I’m extraordinarily excited about it and I get the impression it’s the same for a great deal of people.

Padraic Joyce has done an excellent job since he came as manager nearly five years ago. I remember in 2022 I’d two clubmates on the extended panel and they all came out for the warm-up wearing number 10 as it would’ve been their tenth All-Ireland if they had won.

There were a number of lads on that extended panel who are now major players on the team like John McGrath, who could be in line for an All-Star, and Sean McGrath, who’s their go-to full back.

So Padraic has invested in the players for the last few seasons and they’ve come good this year, and he deserves massive credit for that. They’ve always developed defensively since Cian O’Neill joined in 2021. Initially they were too gung ho under Joyce, so he came in at a really critical point for Galway and thankfully they have struck the right balance and his work speaks for itself.

I think Galway want a really controlled game, similar to what they got against Armagh in Markievicz Park for the opening 50 minutes.

They were able to play that game on their terms, they had a set defence and their attack looked a step or two ahead, but then Armagh were able to introduce an element of chaos with their great press on the kick-out where they got a goal and suddenly the game became a lot more frantic.

I see Sunday’s game on those terms – I wouldn’t be surprised if Galway at some stage go three or four points up but it would be far from over at that stage as Armagh have shown.

I think it’ll be a one-score game at the final whistle. If I were to predict with a gun to my head, I’d say Galway, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it’s similar to the hurling final and ends up in extra-time.

Verdict: Galway