Éamonn Fitzmaurice is expecting Damien Comer to produce his best in Sunday's All-Ireland final as the talismanic forward approaches full fitness.
Comer started the semi-final victory over Donegal, delivering an accomplished performance but not lighting up the stage at Croke Park.
He continues his recovery from an ankle injury which was worsened by a stamp from Derry's Gareth McKinless in the group stages of the All-Ireland series.
The injury was controversial at the time, with Galway manager Pádraic Joyce telling RTÉ Sport afterwards that, "it's very hard to comprehend that a man would deliberately go out and try to hurt a fella. I'm just sickened that that has happened to Damien."
The injury came after a troubled 2023, where a persistent knee injury in the spring was followed by hamstring trouble in the summer months.
He saw minimal game time towards the end of this year's Allianz League campaign and it has been a frustrating 18 months for the Annaghdown clubman.
"I watched back the Donegal-Galway game and I think Comer is very close to exploding," he said on the RTÉ GAA Podcast.
"He had a frustrating game but he was very close to having a very good game. He still looked a small bit rusty, he was blowing hard at times from the lack of game time.
"I could see him having a huge game on Sunday. He's very close to getting back to where he can be.
"He has a record, no more than Shane Walsh, where he can pull these games out of nowhere. In the Connacht final he was absolutely exceptional and he'd very little football under his belt at that stage.
"Keep an eye on Comer, he could have a big one on the way."
Galway have been one of the unluckiest teams when it comes to injuries in 2024 with Seán Kelly and Rob Finnerty also picking up knocks throughout the campaign.
It hasn't stopped them motoring past Dublin and Donegal in the knockout stages and for Peter Canavan, who was speaking on the same podcast, it's a reflection of the strength of depth in Pádraic Joyce's squad.
"It's the one aspect that Pádraic Joyce might be most happy about," began the two-time All-Ireland winner.
"They've got this far without their marquee players playing to their true potential. Other players have stepped up.
"Rob Finnerty has come up with big scores, Cillian McDaid is always good for a point or two, same with Mattie Tierney. Their half-back line is very forceful coming forward.
"Dylan McHugh, in the past two or three games, has been contender for man of the match. They're getting a good spread of scores.
"Pádraic Joyce will be looking at this as an opportunity for Comer and for Walsh to step up. He'll be referencing Tony Kelly's performance last week where, up until that point, he hadn't played anywhere near his true potential but he came good on the big day."
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Watch the Camogie Championship semi-finals, Cork v Dublin and Galway v Tipperary, on Saturday from 1pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch the All-Ireland Football Championship final, Armagh v Galway, on Sunday from 2.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1
