By Cian O’Connell

There was almost a sense of inevitability that Galway and Mayo would be drawn against each other in the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Ladies Championship Quarter-Finals.

That is precisely what happened with three other intriguing fixtures also on the agenda on July 15 and 16.

Nicola Ward, nearly a decade playing for Galway, smiles when the next instalment of the western rivalry is discussed. “I had a bit of an inkling myself that we would draw them,” she says ahead of the Pearse Stadium encounter.

“There is nothing between us really, always. Every time we play there is a really minor gap between us. They managed to get ahead of us in the Connacht Final, they beat us by six points, and we only beat them in the league by a point.

“We are coming into form now after having a great success in our Championship group, topping the group. We are in really good form. Definitely it will be a match to watch out for on that weekend, we are looking forward to it.”

In the Championship group stages Galway defeated Cork and Tipperary which provides a drop of encouragement. “When you are losing games you are the worst in the world, when you are winning them everything is great - we really needed that win against Cork to instil confidence back in us,” Ward remarks.

“I said it when we beat Cork, we faced a lot of criticism after losing the League Final by so much to Kerry and losing the Connacht Final by so much to Mayo.

“In a way people might have lost confidence in us, so we definitely needed that big win to get us back up and running. Things are great, the camp is really good, all focus is on Mayo now.”

Emerging players are beginning to acquire experience at the highest level alongside the established players in the Galway panel.

“We have a really good conveyor belt, there is always new players coming in to the panel each year,” Ward replies. “Caoimhe Clery and Mairead Glynn, who were minor last year, are in. You have girls in for the last two or three years, they are now the ones getting game time and becoming some of the main starters.

“Along with that you have the likes of the Leonards, who have been there for more than 10 years, the Divillys, the Noones too. We are all not that old.

“Myself, I'm only 26, but have been with Galway for the last nine years. We are hitting the years where we should be at our best which is great, but everyone is pushing. There is a great buzz in the camp, everyone is getting on great, it is a nice place to be three or four times a week.”

The fact that so many counties believe that national glory can be attained adds another dynamic to the 2023 campaign. “Definitely, it is anyone's game this year,” Ward responds. “Even last year it was very close with a top four or five teams that could have won it.

“The quarter-final weekend, any team can come out on top. You have Armagh and Cork, Kerry and Meath will be an exciting one - a repeat of last year's All-Ireland Final, Dublin and Donegal too, and ourselves and Mayo. You couldn't call it really. So it definitely is a wide open Championship.”

Undoubtedly operating in the senior inter-county ranks is a commitment, but Ward relishes being involved for Maghnus Breathnach and Fiona Wynne’s Galway outfit.

“Football is my life,” Ward states. “When you finish with the county, you take a few weeks off and go back to your club. One rolls into the other. I love it.

“This year and the last few years we have good progress made with Maghnus and Fiona, so we are building on that this year. The reason you stay so committed is there is a sense that this team can do something and get over the line. For me, hopefully before I retire we will see an All-Ireland medal in a Galway jersey. That is why I'm still there and why I'm still playing.”

Trying to inspire and assist the next generation is vital too. Forging a connection with local clubs and young supporters is critical.

“That was something really nice for me when we were running out the last day in Pearse Stadium, our first Championship match, and our first one at home,” Ward says about Galway’s match in Salthill against Cork.

“Little kids were lined up either side clapping you out. For me that was something really special. They are the ones that are believing in you and are still going to your matches, fair play to their parents for bringing them along that day.

“Even after the match a big crowd of them were on the pitch, that was lovely to see, and those moments are very special.”

Vital work is being carried out at juvenile level across the country, but Ward is optimistic that Galway can progress. “The underage teams you'd always be keeping an eye out,” Ward says.

“The U16s unfortunately lost out in the Connacht Final to Mayo, the minors have their Connacht Final this Wednesday evening. There is always a good conveyor belt coming through. Definitely the work has been put in at grassroots level and the Galway Development squads.

“That is really good, the Galway County Board have been doing great work with that. I think there is a bright future, for sure, in Galway.”

The past counts for something too. Ward recalls watching Galway, captained by Kilkerrin-Clonberne club colleague Annette Clarke, winning the 2004 All-Ireland.

“I had my role models,” Ward explains. “Annette Clarke in our club was the captain of Galway when they won the All-Ireland in '04. We were lucky enough to have her as a club team mate, she was definitely a role model of mine. When I was younger I remember going to those matches in '04 and '05 and I remember them losing to Cork in '05, who went on.

"I remember those days looking up at these players thinking they were unbelievable and what they do for the county. They provided us with such entertainment and excitement.

“I remember it clearly, I remember when they won in '04 going out on to the pitch. Patricia Gleeson was the first person I saw actually, and the big crowd of people out there afterwards.

“It was amazing. PJ Fahy, who was the manager at the time, he'd be a close friend of ours, he is still around, it was a brilliant occasion.”

Getting back to Croke Park is a mission Galway want to accomplish in 2023. Mayo’s intentions are similar. So a lively last eight encounter beckons.