Galway's Nicola Ward says they must build from encouraging signs this season after they were defeated in the All-Ireland final by Kerry.
Galway were in their first All-Ireland final since 2019, and were aiming for their first All-Ireland since 2004, but came up short against a ruthless Kerry team.
While the season may have ended in disappointment in Croke Park, Ward looked at the positives as Galway recovered from a difficult start.
"At the start of the year after we got relegated to Division Two, if you told me we were in an All-Ireland final I would not have believed you.
"We did have a great year, but when your year ends with losing an All-Ireland final it's not the nicest end. I am sure we will be reviewing it shortly and using it for next year."
Galway were one of the stories of the championship. After winning a Connacht title, they went on to defeat Dublin in arguably the shock of the season, before defeating Cork in the semi-final.
While some fans would have been surprised by their season, Ward says Galway were always capable of going far in the championship.
"Over the last few years we've been unlucky not to go further.
"We faced the prominent Meath team, we lost to them by a point in a quarter-final.
“We lost to Mayo by a point in a quarter-final last year. So, to beat Dublin that day, and probably everyone thought our season was going to end that day, it was very special. We backed it up again, and we beat Cork.
“Obviously, then the final didn't go our way, we were beaten by a stronger Kerry side. Definitely, all of those matches that we've overcome mentally.
“It was probably a mental block, you're thinking what do you have to do to get over the line? I suppose each year you're learning, you have to use what you've learned, and bring it to the next.”
Now that Galway have showed what they are capable of, the will be eager to build on the progress made this season.
While the season ended with defeat to Kerry, Ward believes Galway have showed they are one of the top sides in the country, and will benefit from this season.
"When you get to the end and lose the final, and lose it by more than you expected, it can be hard because it is the last match you played in, it is the last thing you think of.
"You nearly have to pull back and not be hard on yourself, and realise how such of a good year we did have.
"We went on to retain the Connacht final, that was another good win for us. Everyone probably thought our season was going to finish thinking we were going to lose to Dublin, but we stepped up.
"Some years you have to learn and you have step up. We will take good inspiration from it and realise we are up there with the top teams."
