Galway Senior Football Championship: Group 3 & 4 Profiles
The opening round of the Galway Senior Football Championship continues on Saturday. Herald Sport looks at the lie of the land in Group 3 and 4.
GROUP 3
MAIGH CUILINN
Champions in 2020, '22 and '25, Maigh Cuilinn are targeting a fourth title in seven attempts in an era of unrivalled success for the club. Their run to last year's Frank Fox began in an all-West Board group with victories over Bearna-Na Forbacha and Killannin prior to a draw with St. James'. Neighbours Oughterard were accounted for in the last eight before close battles with Tuam Stars and Salthill-Knocknacarra at the sharp end. Only a superb St. Brigid's side denied them a second provincial title. Cathal Clancy continues as manager and a well-stocked panel includes familiar names in the Kelly brothers - Seán, Paul and Eoghan - captain David Wynne, Aidan Claffey, Michael Moughan, Peter Cooke, Ger Davoren, James McLaughlin, Johnny Moloney, Niall Walsh and scorer-in-chief Dessie Conneely. Seán O'Connor and Fionn McDonagh were involved with Galway this season and though several have been and are still away, they should get stronger with each round. 'Keeper Nevin O'Donnell, a former Leitrim and Cavan panellist, has transferred in. Owen Gallagher returns from Antrim. Tom Clarke has moved back to his Knockmore in Mayo. The team to beat.
NAOMH ANNA LEITIR MÓIR
Despite group defeats to Milltown and Corofin, Naomh Anna secured knockout football thanks to a second round victory over Monivea-Abbey in 2025. Their run ended in the last 12 at the hands of Dunmore MacHales in extra-time, a game they hit the net through Kasey Ó Ceallaigh, Ciaran Ó Catháin and the Mac Donnachas, Fionn and Oisin. Captain Evan Ó Flatharta, Seán Andy Ó Ceallaigh, Colm Mac Donnacha and Eamonn Ó Loingsigh are key defenders, with Kasey Ó Ceallaigh and county panellist Maitias Eoin Bairéad driving forces at midfield. Oisín Mac Donnacha, who made his championship debut for Galway against Leitrim, will take watching up top along with Warren and Dylan Seoighe, Iarla O Curraoin and Fionn Mac Donnacha. Have been pitched into a group with familiar opponents. Ballinrobe native and ex-Oughterard manager Alan Murphy continues for a second season in charge.
DUNMORE MACHALES
Can Dunmore take the next step in 2026? It's sure to be one of the most interesting stories to watch this season. They've earned three successive league promotions and will play Division 1 football for the first time in 25 years in 2027. Their championship form has been on an upward trajectory even if last season's run ended in abrupt fashion with a heavy quarter-final loss to a more seasoned Corofin. They were the highest scorers in the group phase, losing to Tuam Stars and recording wins over Annaghdown and Claregalway. Naomh Anna were defeated in one of the games of the championship at the last 12 stage following extra-time. Denis Fallon stepped away after playing such a major role in their rise through the ranks with Michael Halliday taking over the managerial reins and 2022 All-Ireland winning boss Alan Glynn continuing in a coaching role. Matthew Redington captains a panel that includes three county players in 'keeper Connor Gleeson, Shane McGrath and Colm Costello. Add Jake Slattery, Thomas Gleeson and Padraig Costello and the graduates from a strong U-20 team last season and they're very much a team to watch.
MONIVEA-ABBEY
Goalkeeper Denis Farragher provided the heroics during penalties of last season's relegation semi-final victory over Bearna Na Forbacha. Successful spot-kicks from Glenn Kelly, Niall Mannion, Trevor Mullins and Galway senior Cillian McDaid did the rest in a win that secured Monivea-Abbey's survival in the Senior Football Championship. Their group results saw defeats to Leitir Móir and Corofin before a draw with Milltown. They survived the drop from Division 2 with a playoff victory on the road, again against Bearna Na Forbacha. McDaid is the star turn for the 2023 Intermediate champions while Darragh Burke featured on the county panel at the start of the year. Galway U-20 panellist Conor Mannion and Cian Dolan have broken through in recent seasons, while Lee Kenny and captain Cathal Cooley are key players. Long-serving midfielder Trevor Mullins has been a terrific servant. Glenn Kelly provides plenty of scoring power up top and along with McDaid and Bran Moran shouldered the bulk of the scoring responsibility in last season's campaign.
GROUP 4
TUAM STARS
Roll of honour leaders with 24 titles, Tuam are bidding to end a wait for Frank Fox that dates back to 1994. After dethroning Corofin in last year's Division 1 final, the Stars recorded group wins over Claregalway, Dunmore MacHales and Annaghdown before being the favourites that diced with elimination most at the last eight stage when overcoming Killannin in extra-time. Their clash with Maigh Cuilinn was a repeat of the 2019, '20 and '24 semi-finals while the clubs also went into battle in the '22 quarter-final. Tuam won the first of those knockout meetings, Maigh Cuilinn the rest with last October's exit coming with plenty of regrets. Tuam's chances suffered a major blow for that game with the absence of their best forward, Brian Mannion. Captained by the fit-again Conor Rhatigan, they have started 2026 by retaining their league title against Corofin after extra-time. Cian Mitchell, who impressed with the Galway U-20s, Sean Rattigan, Jack Cryan and senior panellist Shay McGlinchey continue to build experience, while Rory O'Connor, Dara and Conor Heneghan, Jamie Murphy, Luke Davin and Jack Grugan remain key players. May be rated as the outsider of the championship's 'big four' but very much a serious contender.
OUGHTERARD
A derby quarter-final defeat to neighbours Maigh Cuilinn ended Oughterard's run in 2025. Diarmuid Lee's men recorded group victories over St. Michael's and Mountbellew-Moylough either side of a reversal at the hands of Salthill-Knocknacarra. While they may have rode their luck in a controversial finish with Claregalway in the last 12, equally the Corribsiders showed strength of character to turn around a five-point deficit with just six minutes remaining. The Lees, Niall and Eric, shouldered most of the scoring burden with a dozen points that evening, while Galway forward Matthew Tierney cracked home the winning penalty. They saved their Division 1 status with a relegation semi-final victory over Salthill-Knocknacarra in late June and start their championship against familiar opponents in Tuam. James Webb and the Monaghans, Cian and Ryan, rank among their standout players. Paddy Walsh is captain, while Ronan Molloy and Eddie O'Sullivan, who lifted the cup together following their All-Ireland Intermediate club success at Croke Park in 2020, continue to provide experience.
ST. JAMES'
Jointly captained by 2024 Footballer of the Year Paul Conroy and his ex-Galway teammate Johnny Duane, St. James' enter the championship hoping to improve on last season's run to the last eight. Darragh Leonard and Eoin Concannon continue as co-managers. Last season, they lost a healthy lead in their defeat to Killannin before overcoming Bearna Na Forbacha. The Mervue-based club drew with - and really should have defeated - eventual champions Maigh Cuilinn when they were dominant in the middle third, however 14 wides and a series of missed two-point attempts cost them a shock result. There nothing wrong with their radar in their last 12 win over Milltown when Jack Nolan turned in a man of the match display up top, and former Naas footballer Brian Kane finished their result-sealing goal. Their inconsistency was laid bare in their exit to city rivals Salthill-Knocknacarra in the last eight when shipping five goals. In James Egan and Cian Costello, they're well stocked in the goalkeeping department. Jack Folan, Cathal O'Regan, Conroy, Jack O'Neill and ex-Clare player Dale Masterson are also influential players for the city side.
ANNAGHDOWN
Annaghdown's injury problems were well documented last season and contributed to group losses to Dunmore MacHales, Claregalway and Tuam Stars. Galway star Damien Comer was on maor uisce duty for all three fixtures and his first appearance in the championship came when defeating St. Michael’s in a high pressure relegation semi-final. Comer and Frankie Burke contributed 13 points between them that day, while John Lynn and Darragh Hegarty goals were also crucial in securing survival. Comer and James Healy are joint captains this year, though Burke has retired after a brilliant career. Ex-county panellist Diarmuid Kilcommins is a major player for a club that has produced county minors in recent years in 2022 All-Ireland winners Olan Kelly and Stephen Curley, as well as Ethan Forde and Eoin Newell. Norman O'Brien continues as manager with ex-Mayo forward Michael Conroy part of his backroom.