Derry boss Paddy Tally has urged his players to rise to the challenge of facing a fired-up Galway in Sunday’s crucial All-Ireland Group Four game at Celtic Park (14:00 BST).

With Dublin to come in a fortnight, the Oak Leafers must beat last year’s All-Ireland finalists to keep alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stages.

Derry are winless in 2025, having struggled to cope with injuries to key players, but Tally says there will be no excuses when they host a Tribesmen outfit who lost to Dublin last time out.

“Galway are one of the top teams in the country,” Tally told BBC Sport NI after his side’s defeat by Armagh in round one.

“They got their shock against Dublin. You’ll not see that Galway team again. You’ll see a much more motivated and focused Galway.

“But we have them at home. It’s on us to make sure we perform. There is no other way of looking at it. There will be no excuses so the performance is key and let’s hope we can get a result.”

Tally insisted Derry must improve their kick-outs after being dominated by Armagh in the middle third at the Athletic Grounds.

His hand may be strengthened, however, by the return of goalkeeper Odhran Lynch, who has been named on the bench for the Galway game.

“Armagh looked good, at times they were cutting us open and getting scores,” added former Tyrone and Kerry coach Tally.

“We were loose defensively at times, which wasn’t good enough. We struggled on kick-outs. Armagh are strong around the middle and it’s something we have to work on.

“You can see at times where our players were coming into it. I do think it comes down to not playing for a while but that will not be an excuse against Galway.”

Derry rallied from nine points to draw against Galway at Celtic Park in Division One earlier this year, but lost 2-14 to 0-15 in last year’s All-Ireland round-robin tie.