Galway come out on top in league tie

Galway 2-18 Tyrone 1-19, after extra-time

Another day, another epic. That's the way things are with the country's two top teams, who, for the second time in a week, served up an extra-time corker at Pearse Stadium.

Breathtaking, rip-roaring, downright terrifying at times, this was a National Football League semi-final with just about everything.

A Tyrone comeback from nine points behind, three cracking goals, an exhibition of glorious points taking, frenzied endeavour from both sides and another virtuoso performance from Padraig Joyce.

At the end of it all, Tyrone's first defeat in two seasons saw them relinquish their league title, but not without a mighty fight.

The pitch invasion said it all. A restless Tribe is on the move again, and the significance of this result was not lost on the maroon-clad faithful.

Having confirmed their rehabilitation following the embarrassment of a thrashing by Wexford, they have measured themselves against the very best, and blasted out a scary warning to Gaelic football's aspiring greats.

For Tyrone, the shadow of the championship has receded, not so threatening now since they have a fortnight to recover and prepare for their preliminary round clash with Derry, while it's Galway who head for Croke Park, and an NFL final clash with Kerry next Sunday.

Tommy Joyce, creative and inventive in his free roving role, sent Michael Donnellan in for the perfect finish after just three minutes, and Tyrone were already chasing the game.

When Padraig Joyce elegantly floated over one of his six points, the Tribesmen were 1-2 to 0-2 ahead and looking confident and composed.

Worse was to follow for the NFL and Al-Ireland champions in the 13th minute, Tommy Joyce again the provider for brother Padraig to collect, check, accelerate and pick his spot in the bottom corner of Pascal McConnell's net.

Serious questions were being asked of Tyrone's defensive organisation, and while Sean Cavanagh, Mark Harte and Enda McGinley kept them afloat with points, concession at the back was a major problem.

When John Devane hoisted a long range effort, Galway led by 2-6 to 0-5, and while Tyrone did threaten to turn the tide with scores from Owen Mulligan and a Harte free, Galway finished the half strongly, the Joyce brothers bang on target for a commanding 2-9 to 0-7 interval advantage.

And it could have been greater, had Pascal McConnell not saved a Derek Savage penalty on the half-hour awarded for a foul on the marauding Michael Meehan.

Tyrone fell nine points behind to another Tommy Joyce effort early in the second half, but suddenly they rediscovered the famous spark and seized control in devastating fashion to hit 1-7 without reply and take the lead.

Brian Dooher blasted over three wonderful scores, but it was Sean Cavanagh's 49th minute goal that set the game alight.

He collected an Enda McGinley pass to scythe through a back-pedalling Galway defence before sending a low-flying missile past Alan Keane.

Harte brought the sides level from a 45 metre free, and it was Dooher's massive effort from far out on the right wing that had the Red Hands in front with 14 minutes to play.

Plenty of time yet for more high drama, as the sides refused to allow the pace to wane and traded point for point.

Donnellan and Joyce for Galway, sub Joe McMahon with the lead point two minutes from time, before Joyce levelled it again right at the death, deadlocked at 2-13 to 1-16.

First blood to Galway as they headed once again into energy-sapping extra-time, Devane and Sean Óg de Paor both on target, before McCullagh and Mulligan restored parity.

But the final period belonged to O'Mahony's men. Donnellan was still running strong, Joyce remained alert and elusive, but it was the other Joyce boys, Tommy and Nicky, who got the scores which put daylight between two heroic sides.

Galway: A Keane, M Comer, G Fahy, K Fitzgerald, D Meehan, P Clancy (0-1), S Og de Paor (0-1), J Bergin, S O Domhnaill, D Savage, M Donnellan (1-1, 1f), J Devane (0-2), M Meehan (0-2), P Joyce (1-6, 3f), T Joyce (0-3). Subs: N Joyce (0-1) for Savage, T Meehan for Devane.

Tyrone: P McConnell, R McMenamin, C Gormley, C Gourley, B Donnelly, G Devlin, P Jordan, K Hughes, S Cavanagh (1-1), B Dooher (0-3), B McGuigan, O Mulligan (0-2), M Harte (0-9, 8f), E McGinley (0-1), C McCullagh(0-2). Subs: J McMahon (0-1) for Donnelly, C Holmes for Hughes, D Carlin for Gormley.

Referee: Michael Collins (Cork)