Galway edge Donegal to book final spot with Armagh

All-Ireland SFC semi-final

Donegal 0-15 Galway 1-14

By Michael McMullan

Two late scores saw Galway into an All-Ireland final meeting with Armagh after a titanic battle with Donegal in Croke Park yesterday.

The sides were level 10 times before the Connacht champions pushed on for victory.

Galway were out of the blocks with points from Dylan McHugh and Rob Finnerty as goalkeeper Connor Gleeson gave them a platform with his kick-out accuracy.

Gallen (2) and Thompson landed points to put Donegal ahead. The sides were level twice more before Galway hit the net. Paul Conroy’s lob went all the way to the net with Shaun Patton’s sight impeded by Ciarán Thompson and Mattie Tierney blocking his view.

The goal put Galway 1-5 to 0-5 ahead after 23 minutes but McBrearty kicked a booming score instantly.

Donegal’s recovery continued with three Langan points seeing them go in level at the break, 1-7 to 0-10.

It was tit for tat for most of the third quarter with the sides level four times. Silke and McHugh hit scores for Galway with McBrearty on target for Donegal who then lost Eoghan Bán Gallagher to injury after 46 minutes.

John Maher fisted Galway into the lead in the 60th minute as both management teams began to use their benches. Langan kicked a fourth point of the day to level matters once again.

There were wides at either end before Finnerty kicked Galway ahead from a free in the 65th minute. Liam Silke kicked the insurance point for Galway as Donegal missed chances to save the game.

Donegal: Shaun Patton; Peadar Mogan, Brendan McCole, Eoghan Bán Gallagher; Caolan McColgan; Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle (0-1), Ciarán Moore, Michael Langan (0-4), Jason McGee; Ciarán Thompson (0-2, 1m), Shane O’Donnell (0-2) Aaron Doherty; Patrick McBrearty (0-3, 2f), Oisín Gallen (0-3)
Subs: Dáire Ó Baoill for McColgan (30), Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí for Gallagher (INJ 48), Niall O’Donnell for McBrearty (59), Hugh McFadden for McGee (59), Odhrán Doherty for Doherty (63),

Galway: Connor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Liam Silke (0-2), Jack Glynn; Dylan McHugh (0-2, Sean Fitzgerald, Sean Mulkerrin; Paul Conroy (1-1), Céin D’Arcy; Matthew Tierney, John Maher (0-1), Cillian McDaid (0-1); Rob Finnerty (0-4, 2f), Damien Comer, Shane Walsh (0-3, 2f)
Subs: Johnny Heaney for D’Arcy (57), Daniel O’Flaherty for Walsh (63), John Daly for Fitzgerald (66), Kieran Molloy for Comer (72), Tomo Culhane for McDaid (72)

Attendance: 67,002

Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare)