All-Ireland SFC final day promises to be poignant occasion for Galway

July 21, 2026

John O'Mahony celebrates as Galway manager after the All-Ireland SFC final victory over Meath at Croke Park in 2001.
©INPHO/Patrick Bolger.

Galway’s silver jubilee All-Ireland SFC winning team of 2001 will be presented to the crowd before next Sunday’s All-Ireland final between Kerry and Mayo.

Poignantly, the reunion comes just a month after Paul Clancy, who was a star forward on the team, passed away at the age of just 49 following an illness. Double All-Ireland winning manager John O’Mahony will also be sadly absent after passing away three years ago. 

Captained by Gary Fahey, the team will be honoured 25 years on from their 0-17 to 0-8 victory over Meath in the final. The Tribesmen came through the newly-introduced All-Ireland qualifier system to produce a big second half performance spearheaded by current manager Padraic Joyce, who finished with 0-11 to his name.

The Westerners haven’t lifted the Sam Maguire since then, having lost finals to Kerry and Armagh in 2022 and ’24 respectively.


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