Galway star John Maher reflects on ‘one of the most challenging games I have played all year’

Simon Dymond

Galway midfielder John Maher has described Sunday’s hard-fought victory over Mayo as “one of the most challenging games I have played all year,” as the Tribesmen advanced to the All-Ireland quarter-finals with a narrow two-point win at Pearse Stadium. The 26-year-old Salthill-Knocknacarra clubman delivered a man-of-the-match performance in the intense local derby, which saw Galway overcome their fierce rivals on a scoreline of 1-14 to 0-15 in front of a capacity crowd of 18,000 spectators.

Speaking exclusively to the Connacht Tribune in the aftermath of Sunday’s pulsating encounter, Maher reflected on the physical and mental demands of the contest that has cemented Galway’s status as genuine All-Ireland contenders. Irish betting firms have responded swiftly to Galway’s impressive showing, with Leonbet cutting their odds for All-Ireland glory from 8/1 to 5/1, making them third favorites behind Dublin and Kerry in the outright betting market.

“There’s something different about Mayo games,” Maher explained, still visibly exhausted 48 hours after the final whistle. “The intensity, the physicality, the crowd – everything gets ramped up to another level. I’ve played in some big championship games over the past few years, but Sunday was different. The way they came at us in that third quarter, it felt like we were under siege for about 20 minutes straight.”

Battle in the middle third

Maher’s personal battle with Mayo’s Matthew Ruane in the middle third emerged as one of the game’s defining contests. The two midfielders engaged in a fascinating duel throughout, with statistics showing they contested 17 direct duels over the 70-plus minutes.

“Matthew is one of the best in the business, and you know you’re in for a serious test when you’re up against him,” said Maher. “There were times in that third quarter when they were dominating kick-outs and he seemed to be everywhere on the field. Those are the moments when you have to dig deep and try to turn the momentum back in your favor.”

The statistics support Maher’s assessment of the game’s ebb and flow. Mayo dominated possession (56%) and won 14 of their own 22 kick-outs, with Ruane claiming five clean catches in the middle third. However, it was Maher’s ability to make his possessions count that proved decisive, with the Galway man registering three points from play and creating four scoring chances for teammates.

“It’s not always about how much ball you have, it’s what you do with it,” reflected Maher. “We knew going into the game that Mayo might have more possession, but our game plan was about being clinical when we had the ball and making good decisions under pressure. I think we managed that well, especially in the closing stages.”

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Tactical adjustments proved crucial

Maher credited Galway manager Pádraic Joyce with making crucial tactical adjustments at half-time that helped stem Mayo’s third-quarter surge. With Galway leading by four points at the break (1-8 to 0-7), Mayo introduced Ryan O’Donoghue and immediately seized control of the contest, reeling off five unanswered points to take the lead by the 50th minute.

“Pádraic has this calm authority about him, even when things aren’t going our way,” revealed Maher. “There was no panic at half-time, just clear instructions about what we needed to adjust. When Mayo got that run of scores after half-time, we had a quick chat during the water break, tweaked a couple of things with our press, and managed to regain control.”

The adjustment Maher refers to saw Galway move from a more traditional man-to-man approach to a hybrid defensive structure, with Seán Kelly dropping deeper as a sweeper and Liam Silke shadowing O’Donoghue’s movements.

“We’ve worked on different defensive systems all year,” explained Maher. “The flexibility to switch between them during games has been a real strength for us. Everyone knows their role in each system, so when Pádraic calls for a change, we can implement it pretty seamlessly.”

Joyce himself acknowledged the crucial role these tactical adjustments played in the victory: “We had to adapt to what Mayo were doing because they were getting a lot of joy through the middle in that third quarter. Credit to the players for executing the changes so effectively under serious pressure. John [Maher] was instrumental in reorganizing us on the field.”

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Mental resilience after league disappointment

Maher believes Galway’s disappointing National League campaign, which saw them narrowly miss out on a final appearance after a one-point defeat to Dublin, has strengthened their mental resilience for the championship.

“That Dublin game in the league hurt us,” admitted Maher. “We were in a winning position with five minutes to go and let it slip. We did a lot of soul-searching after that match, had some honest conversations as a group, and I think you’re seeing the benefits of that process now in championship.”

The midfielder highlighted the final ten minutes against Mayo, when Galway outscored their opponents 0-4 to 0-1, as evidence of this improved mental strength.

“Championship games against Mayo usually go down to the wire, and historically they’ve often had the edge in those closing stages. There was a real determination within our group to flip that narrative on Sunday. When we went behind, nobody panicked. There was a collective belief that if we stuck to our processes, we’d find a way to win.”

Former Galway star Michael Meehan, who watched the game as an analyst for RTÉ, was particularly impressed with Maher’s leadership during this crucial period.

“John has grown into a real leader for this Galway team,” observed Meehan. “What impressed me most on Sunday wasn’t just his scores or his physical attributes, it was how he communicated and organized those around him when the pressure was most intense. You could see him constantly talking, positioning teammates, and making sure everyone knew their role.”

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Physical toll of modern intercounty game

Maher was frank in his assessment of the physical demands placed on modern intercounty players, revealing that the intensity of Sunday’s encounter exceeded anything he had experienced previously this season.

“The GPS data after the game showed I covered just over 12 kilometers, with about 3.5 kilometers at high intensity,” Maher disclosed. “But the numbers don’t tell the full story of how physically demanding these games are. The collisions, the constant accelerations and decelerations, the mental concentration required – it all adds up.”

Recovery has been Maher’s priority in the 48 hours since the final whistle, with ice baths, massage, and careful nutrition forming part of his post-match routine.

“Monday was about complete rest, Tuesday was light activation work in the pool, and we’ll gradually build it back up as the week progresses. The six-day turnaround to the quarter-final is challenging, but our medical and conditioning team have a detailed plan for each player.”

Galway’s strength and conditioning coach Barry Solan, who has previously worked with Arsenal FC and the Polish national soccer team, has implemented cutting-edge recovery protocols for the squad.

“Barry has brought really advanced methods to our setup,” explained Maher. “Everything is individualized based on our GPS data from games and training. Some lads will do more recovery, others might need specific work on certain muscle groups. That scientific approach has been a game-changer for us this year.”

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Looking ahead to All-Ireland stages

With Galway now preparing for an All-Ireland quarter-final against Ulster champions Donegal at Croke Park this Saturday, Maher is conscious of the need to quickly refocus after the emotional high of defeating their provincial rivals.

“Beating Mayo is always special, particularly in championship, but we can’t dwell on it,” he insisted. “Donegal present a completely different challenge. They’re Ulster champions for a reason, and they’ve been really impressive under Jim McGuinness this year.”

Maher has been studying footage of Donegal’s midfield pairing of Hugh McFadden and Jason McGee in preparation for Saturday’s encounter.

“They’re a different proposition to Mayo’s midfield. McGee offers them a real aerial threat on kick-outs, while McFadden is excellent at shielding their defense. We’ll need to come up with specific strategies to counteract their strengths.”

Despite the quick turnaround, Maher believes Galway are well-positioned for a serious All-Ireland challenge.

“The squad is in a good place physically and mentally. We’ve had different players stepping up at different times throughout the championship, which shows the depth we’ve developed. Sunday’s win will give us confidence, but we know we’ll need to raise our performance level again at Croke Park.”

As one of Galway’s most experienced players, having made his championship debut back in 2019, Maher has experienced both highs and lows in the maroon jersey. Last year’s All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Dublin still stings, but he believes this current group has the potential to go one step further.

“There’s a special bond in this squad,” he concluded. “We’ve been building together for a few years now, learning some tough lessons along the way. Sunday’s game against Mayo tested us in ways we haven’t been tested before this year, and we came through it. That gives us belief heading to Croke Park, but we know the real challenges are still ahead.”

As Galway fans snap up tickets for Saturday’s quarter-final clash, they’ll be hoping Maher can reproduce his man-of-the-match performance on the biggest stage of all – and drive the Tribesmen one step closer to bridging the 23-year gap to their last All-Ireland success.

Simon Dymond
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