The fact that Galway reached last year's All-Ireland football final was an achievement when you consider the injuries to so many key players throughout the year.
Shane Walsh, Seán Kelly and Damien Comer were either absent for periods or saw limited action as the Tribes first of all stayed in the league's top flight and then reached the Sam Maguire decider. Early on in the final against Armagh, Rob Finnerty had to go off, depriving the Tribes of an able free-taker.
And then to compound matters a one-point defeat was their lot. Much frustration, regret and no little annoyance after a second All-Ireland miss in three years.
A year on, Galway's injuries woes have eased. Their league campaign had many positives, more so early on, though they were still in contention to reach the divisional final ahead of the final series of games.
Their championship began with an expected win in New York, though not by the margin many thought. On Sunday next, Roscommon are the opposition at Pearse Stadium for the Connacht semi-final.
Damien Comer endured a frustrating 2024, with both of his hamstrings causing him problems at various stages.
After rehab, much rest and then building one's self up again during the autumn and winter months, the 31-year-old saw action towards the back end of the league and feels he has built up a "bank of resilience" that will hopefully play a key part in Galway's championship run.
Speaking at the launch of the 2025 Kellogg's GAA Cúl Camps, the 2022 All-Star said: "I just had to be patient during the league, get a good, solid foundation of training done. I was hoping to be back for the Tyrone game but that came a bit soon, so we waited for a break in the league (in March).
"I got a bit of game time against Dublin, then a bit more against Kerry. A league final would have been nice, to get another game under the belt. That didn't work out but I got a good bank of work done."
Comer, who did not feature in the victory at Gaelic Park last Sunday week, went on to say that his time on the field of play may be limited somewhat in the weeks ahead.
"You have to build slowly and surely, so minutes will always be monitored and maybe less than I like," he added.
"I have to respect that and go with the advice I've been given from my medical team and strength and conditioning. Hopefully as the summer progresses and seeing that I've built up a bank of resilience, I will hopefully play the 70 minutes but for the moment it will probably be curtailed. I'm OK with that, as long as I'm able to stay on the pitch and keep playing."
Comer is now in his 12th season as a Galway senior footballer, joining at a time when the county's fortunes were looking up again, this after championship defeats to the likes of Sligo, Wexford and Antrim. Needless to say the 31-year-old is hoping that they can - with a full squad to choose from and the addition of some fresh faces - end what is now a 24-year-wait for football's biggest prize.
"I started playing with Galway in 2014 and there were a lot of years we were just getting by and then losing games we shouldn't be losing, underachieving really. It started with Kevin (Walsh), getting systems in place and building a bit of belief and confidence into the team that we could compete, like we did in 2018 when we go to an All-Ireland semi-final.
"When Pádraic (Joyce) came in, that instilled further belief. Young lads were coming through, and really developing them that has led us to where we are. We have fallen short in those two years. We need to find something, that little bit of an edge to get over the line.
"Last year we were decimated with injuries, just struggled to stay in Division One, but thankfully did. In fairness to the boys, and some of them were very new to the squad, they battled hard, and kept us up last year.
"This year, then, we'd a pick of nearly our strongest XV or very close to it for the most part. That was great. We needed that with the new rules, trying to get used to them.
"It is just building that character and building that squad depth was an aim for Pádraic. It will hopefully stand to us during the summer."
Many Galway fans still harp back to that agonising loss from last July. A final that Galway certainly had the winning of.
For Comer, the pain of that day is still raw but he is at pains to place it in context.
"It will haunt you for as long as you can think about it, to be honest," he remarked.
"It does hurt and it will live with you until you die."
Yet.
"Again, it is sport. You can't let it completely consume you. I know sport is a great outlet for many people. As I get older I have learned to detach from the emotional side of it. You're upset and you're disappointed but you have to try and park it as best you can. You can't let it dictate your mood from week to week, though. Some people are better at that than others."
For now it's all about the Rossies on Easter Sunday.
No shortage of attacking talent will be on view. The Annaghdown clubman is relishing the prospect.
"You'll have some of the best forwards in the game. Roscommon are heavily stacked. It will be a good battle. It will be tight, as it normally is."
Watch Roscommon v Galway in the Connacht Football Championship on Sunday from 3.45pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch The Sunday Game from 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on all matches on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to updates from around the country on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
