Gleeson holds nerve to seal Galway's Connacht hat-trick
WINNING SCORE: Galway goalkeeper Connor Gleeson celebrates with his manager Padraic Joyce. Pic:Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
It may not have been a classic Connacht Final, but that was the last thing on Galway minds as they celebrated a dramatic victory over their oldest and fiercest rivals in Salthill.
The fifth minute of added time was just coming to an end as goalkeeper Connor Gleeson saw his free from 48 metres into the wind sail over the bar to deliver a third Nestor Cup in a row.
Mayo, who had led for the vast majority of a match that mostly meandered along at its own pace, did manage to create one last-gasp chance to force extra-time.
But Cillian O’Connor, so often their saviour in the past, saw his long-distance effort sail wide, and with it went Mayo’s hopes of winning a first provincial title since 2021.
Kevin McStay’s team had carried a two-point lead into stoppage-time at the end of a second half that ebbed and flowed, but three converted frees from Rob Finnerty, Shane Walsh and Gleeson saw Padraic Joyce’s charges snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
The Tribesmen had only led for a total of three minutes all day, before Gleeson's winner, but Mayo were unable to hold their rivals at bay in a frantic finish.
Damien Comer delivered a man of the match performance and was a constant threat close to the Mayo goal while Robert Finnerty produced his finest display in a Galway jersey, shooting eight points (five from frees).
Shane Walsh also played a key role in Galway’s late match-winning surge, landing a few crucial scores when the outcome hung in the balance.
Mayo’s injured captain, Paddy Durcan, was conspicuous by his absence while Ryan O’Donoghue was unable to exert the same sort of influence here as he had in previous outings.
Still, Mayo had led at half-time by two points (0-8 to 0-6) despite playing into the infamous Salthill breeze.
Galway had missed two goal chances, introduced John Maher and Shane Walsh, and were far from their free-flowing best.
Damien Comer served notice of his intent when he drilled a goal effort just wide after six minutes and saw a shot brilliantly saved by Colm Reape eight minutes later.
But Mayo were very combative around the middle in the opening half and with Donnacha McHugh doing a vice-like marking job on Galway captain Sean Kelly, the challengers were getting a lot of things right.
Matthew Ruane got them off the mark in the fourth minute and they would add further scores from Ryan O'Donoghue (3), Fergal Boland, the lively Tommy Conroy and McHugh.
Aidan O'Shea was winning more than his share of the ball but, for all their industry Mayo never threatened Gleeson's goal.
Galway started the second half in whirlwind fashion, with the outstanding Damien Comer, Johnny Heaney and Robert Finnerty kicking points to edge them ahead.
But it could have been even better had Maher’s shot not been taken off the line by Rory Brickenden and scrambled to safety by Colm Reape.
Wind-assisted Mayo then took charge.
They kicked the next four points and O'Donoghue almost chipped the retreating Gleeson for a goal after 49 minutes.
Mayo were three clear, 0-11 to 0-8 after 55 minutes, with Tommy Conroy winning a lot of ball on the half-forward line and threatening to create havoc.
But Galway stayed in the game as Finnerty landed a free, Gleeson added another from long-distance, Finnerty clipped over from play and Walsh ran in from the left to clip a trademark score.
That left Galway one up, 0-13 to 0-12, with five minutes left, but Mayo hit back immediately.
O'Donoghue converted a free to level the scores before Ruane raced forward to put the visitors in front and Conroy doubled the advantage as injury-time arrived.
But Galway stuck to their task and Connor Gleeson showed nerves of steel to win the title with a pressure free.
Kevin McStay must now try and rally his troops for the All-Ireland series and a home game against Cavan in two weeks’ time.
Galway, meanwhile, will welcome Derry to Pearse Stadium with a spring in their step after this latest satisfying derby success.
R Finnerty (0-8, 5 frees); S Walsh (0-3, 1f); D Comer, C Gleeson (frees) (0-2 each); J Heaney (0-1).
R O'Donoghue (0-6, 4 frees, 1m); M Ruane (0-3); T Conroy (0-2); D McHugh, J Flynn, F Boland, C O'Connor (0-1 each).
C Gleeson; J Glynn, S Fitzgerald, J McGrath; J Daly, L Silke, S Kelly; C Darcy, P Conroy; J Heaney, K Molloy, D McHugh; R Finnerty, D Comer, C Sweeney.
J Maher for Molloy (21); S Walsh for Sweeney (33); M Tierney for Heaney (53); S Mulkerrin for Fitzgerald (65).
C Reape; S Callinan, D McBrien, R Brickenden; E McLaughlin, J Coyne, S Coen; J Carney, M Ruane; D McHugh, F Boland (0-0), J Flynn; R O'Donoghue, A O'Shea, T Conroy.
D O'Connor for Boland (45); C O'Connor for O'Shea (54); E Hession for Flynn (58); C Loftus for Coyne (55); B Tuohy (for Carney (69).
D Gough (Meath)
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