Shane Walsh is hoping to play his part in a first Galway senior football success at Croke Park in 16 years on Sunday.

Astonishingly, the Tribesmen have failed in 10 attempts to win at GAA headquarters since beating Meath in the 2001 All-Ireland final. Their most recent visit to Croke Park last summer ended in a disastrous All-Ireland SFC quarter-final defeat to Tipperary and Walsh is still awaiting his first win there in any grade.

"No, I haven't experience a win yet," he told the Irish Examiner.

"But every time I come out to Croke Park it's a great experience. I always say to myself, 'take a deep breath, take it all in and use it as experience, enjoy the occasion'. We're looking at this as a final in Croke Park and we don't get the opportunity too often to play in Croke Park let alone play in a final there.

"So we'll just be looking to go out and to enjoy the occasion and hopefully get the result against a very difficult Kildare team."

Last Sunday, Galway only had a point to spare over a Kildare team that showed 14 changes from that which secured promotion against Clare the previous weekend, and the centre forward is under no illusions about the task facing Kevin Walsh's men.

"Kildare showed the strength of their panel so it's going to be very tough knowing that they'll be bringing back a few of their big hitters," he added.

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