John Maher enjoying Galway adventure

By Cian O’Connell

It simply started having fun. With Anthony Finnerty on the line, it wasn’t going to be any other way.

Success and county underage titles were gleaned by a decent Salthill-Knocknacarra crop along the way with Galway eventually grateful for the emergence of Rob Finnerty and John Maher at the highest level.

Cathal Sweeney, Tomo Culhane, Daniel O’Flaherty, and Matthew Thompson have all followed the same path graduating to represent Galway under Pádraic Joyce’s stewardship. All have contributed at various stages during a particularly dramatic 2025.

Maher’s first steps in the sport were taken with his pal, Rob Finnerty with Anthony always ready, willing, and able to source a game somewhere. “Even the friendships and bonds we established back then and have grown since, they're very formative,” Maher reflects.

“They're a big part of your love for the game, the people you're playing with the whole time. They all started back playing with Anthony in those early years.

“Anthony just loved playing games. No matter what competition it was, it was how many games can we get into these guys. We'd be playing in any league we could get into, up an age group, you name it. We just played loads.

“We had great days on the road with him, and they were really formative. I think that was my introduction to football, it was so enjoyable. That was an environment fostered by Anthony. So, great credit is due to him.”

Thompson’s splendid contribution in recent months is a further sign of encouragement for the city club. “He joined the Salthill seniors in 2022, he was a bit lighter then than he is now,” Maher says. “He is so dedicated, he puts so much time into his skillset and into his body.

“Over the past few years he has filled out his frame, he is able for inter-county football now. He doesn't look out of place, whatsoever. I'm not too surprised in a way because I've seen so much of him over the past few years.

“I'm delighted for him personally that he had the performance the last day. I'm sure there will be many more to come in years to come for Matthew.”

Maher hasn’t forgotten where he came from. An exciting talent in the juvenile ranks, Maher featured in the 2020 Allianz Football League when action resumed following Covid. Then, he endured a wait before earning a recall following the 2022 All-Ireland SFC.

Galway were beaten by Kerry in that decider, but Maher stayed patient and resilient. “I had a taste of the inter-county set-up in 2020,” Maher says.

“I really enjoyed it, I was only in there for a brief period when the Championship resumed after Covid. I really enjoyed my time in there.

"I took a bit of time, I finished out my time in university. When I came back, I had a good club season.”

The late John O’Mahony was Salthill-Knocknacarra’s manager and Maher had plenty of worthwhile chats. “Certainly a few conversations with John O'Mahony helped, having a real positive club season, figuring out what I wanted to do with my life,” Maher adds.

“That had always been a nagging factor, I'd like to go back to pursue inter-county football, to see how far I could go with it.

"Then, of course coming off the successful year the lads had in 2022, it was inspiring. It was something I wanted to be involved in.

“I got a call up in 2022 and, I suppose, I haven't looked back. I definitely saw the panel had strengthened, everything around the panel had strengthened by then. I saw there was an opportunity to grow with the team, I've really enjoyed my time since, and here we are, three seasons later.”

Does Maher appreciate it even more because of the setbacks? Absolutely,” he replies. “It is like anything, you try to be as present as possible, try to enjoy the moment.

“We can all lose sight sometimes in sport, be too results focused, not enjoy the moment that is in front of us.

"It is something we're trying to do this week. It is great to be back at Croke Park, it is great to be playing against Meath in a quarter-final.

“If you look at the other side of the coin, and we'd gone out up in Newry last week, that would've been a poor way to end the season.

“Staying in that present state, enjoy it, enjoy the work you're going through is certainly where I try to keep my mindset. With results and stuff, you can be pulled from that.”

So, Maher has stayed focused during a chaotic Championship. Galway were under duress in Celtic Park and Kingspan Breffni, but did enough to collect three points against Derry and Armagh. Down were subsequently defeated in a similarly exciting encounter.

The passion Galway demonstrated bodes well. “It does, it is good to know that we're capable of coming back from big margins, that we've that never say die attitude,” Maher replies.

“We were well behind in Derry, we'd a lot to do to make up that margin. It was great to get out of there with a point to keep our season alive up there.

"We came back against Armagh in a similar fashion. We finished out well compared to the previous games.

“They're all very positive, it is good to know we've that resilience in us, but I think, for our own sake and our supporters we'd rather not have to show that much resilience.

“If we could just play to our strengths, play with a bit more control throughout the game, we mightn't have to show that side. It is certainly encouraging to know we can go there if needs be.”

Maher is relishing the adventure.