Oisin McConville believes that Galway will win this year's All-Ireland title. It's a conclusion which the former Armagh footballer, and current Wicklow manager, has come to in recent weeks.
On Saturday, Galway opened their All-Ireland SFC group stage campaign with a three-point victory over Tyrone at Pearse Stadium.
"I've been thinking this last couple of weeks, and I know this sounds ridiculous," McConville told the BBC's The GAA Social podcast, "when I saw Galway against Sligo in the Connacht final, and the ammunition they have off the bench, which is significantly better than what it was last year, they've definitely added three or four.
"I think Galway have an unbelievable chance of winning the All-Ireland. I think Galway are going to win the All-Ireland.
"You throw that [Tyrone] game at Galway three or four years ago, what's the one thing we'd always say? That 'They can't close it out the big games. They don't know how to win. They're a good team, lovely to watch.'
"I'll tell you what, they're as dogged as anybody now. That's been the big difference for them in the last possibly two years. That's been the significant difference between Galway winning [and losing] games like that."
20 May 2023; Darren McCurry of Tyrone in action against Shane Walsh of Galway during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 1 match between Galway and Tyrone at Pearse Stadium in Galway. Photo by Ray Ryan/Sportsfile
McConville continued: "What Padraic Joyce is looking for is everyone of [their forwards] to put in a shift. If it's not happening for them, if they're not getting 1-5 or 1-6, it doesn't matter, you still have to put in a shift for the team. We've seen that in bucketloads over the last couple of weeks.
"I think that's the difference now. Rather than needing them all to play well, they're all putting in a shift, that's the thing I've noticed about Walsh and Comer. Comer, in fairness, you'd always associate him with that.
"They're just more dogged. It's almost like a derogatory term but it's not. That's the biggest compliment I can give them.
"That's all they were missing. They always had the footballers. They always had the ability to turn it on. They've always had those mavericks within the team that can win you a game. I don't think they've seen the level of everybody chipping in, everybody willing to put in a shift that they have now."
See Also: Feargal Logan Questions Gough's Decisions As Tyrone Lose To Galway
