Galway edge Donegal to set up All-Ireland final date with Armagh

FINAL-BOUND: Galway's Shane Walsh bursts past Daire Ó Baoill during the All-Ireland SFC semi-final at Croke Park. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

All-Ireland SFC semi-final: Galway 1-14 Donegal 0-15 

Another thrilling semi-final, another electric Croke Park, a final that promises to bring a magnificent wave of colour; We have a summer.

Galway and Armagh will meet in the 2024 All-Ireland decider after Pádraic Joyce’s outfit overcame Donegal in a hard-earned two-point triumph in front of a 67,002 crowd. They scored four of the final five points to shake off the Ulster champions.

Before the start, Pádraic Joyce made one change from the team named earlier in the week. Captain Seán Kelly was replaced by Cein D’Arcy. In his absence, Matthew Tierney led his side for the pre-match parade.

For the stadium tribute to two-time All-Ireland-winning football manager John O’Mahony, Galway formed an arrow shape on the field. The entire 26 and backroom team then came together for the national anthem.

Jim McGuinness opted for three late moves with Jason McGee, Caolan McColgan and Aaron Doherty coming in for Niall O’Donnell, Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí and Daire Ó Baoill.

Man of the Match Dylan McHugh struck first for the Connacht champions as Connor Gleeson provided a fruitful launchpad with his kickouts, retaining all bar one despite going long with the vast majority. A fisted point by Robert Finnerty pushed them two clear.

Donegal began with two wides from Oisin Gallen and Michael Langan but found their range thanks to Shane O’Donnell. From there they hit no more wides before half-time. The outstanding Langan levelled it up after 13 minutes.

That score was created by Gallen, who laid on for Ciaran Thompson just before it. The number 14 then evaded marker Liam Silke to land his first.

Galway's Damien Comer in action against Donegal's Brendan McCole. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Galway hit the front again soon after. Paul Conroy went for a point from just inside the 45 but his right-footed strike dropped well short. A scrambling Shaun Patton was distracted by the nearby Matthew Tierney and a green flag was the end result.

Donegal responded superbly to make it 0-10 to 1-7 at the turnaround. Two successive shots into the Hill 16 end-from-range brought Langan’s first-half total to three. Their opening half conversion ended up at an awesome 76%.

The first ten minutes of the second half continued in the same clinical fashion. Shane Walsh notched a free, Gallen curled over a beauty. Cillian McDaid boomed over a monster point and McBrearty’s trusted left produced another equaliser.

Donegal lost Eoghán Bán Gallagher to injury and that stoppage seemed to momentarily halt their shooting efficiency. 

Thompson failed to score with a handpass attempt and dropped a shot short in the same play. Gallen and Ciaran Moore missed as well. It took a gorgeous Langan kick from near the 45 to break that spell.

With five minutes remaining, a contentious call by referee Brendan Cawley enraged Donegal and saw Galway hit the front. Thompson dived for a breaking ball and was penalised for a technical foul with replays suggesting the ball did indeed touch the ground.

A second point from Silke made the margin two. Suddenly, Donegal were panicking. Langan and Peadar Mogan both had chances. Both went to the wrong side of the post.

Scorers for Galway: P. Conroy 1-1; S. Walsh 0-3 (2 frees); R. Finnerty 0-4 (2 frees); L. Silke 0-2; D. McHugh 0-2; C. McDaid 0-1; J. Maher 0-1.

Scorers for Donegal: M. Langan 0-4; O. Gallen 0-3; P. McBrearty 0-3 (1 free); S. O’Donnell 0-2; C. Thompson 0-2; C. McGonagle 0-1.

Galway: C. Gleeson; J. McGrath, L. Silke, J. Glynn; D. McHugh, S. Fitzgerald, S. Mulkerrin; P. Conroy, C. D’Arcy; M. Tierney, J. Maher, C. McDaid; R. Finnerty, D. Comer, S. Walsh.

Subs: J Heaney for D’Arcy (57); D. O’Flaherty for Walsh (63); J Daly for Fitzgerald (65); K. Molloy for Comer, T. Culhane for McDaid (both 70).

Donegal: S. Patton; E. Gallagher, B McCole, C. McColgan; C. Moore, C. McGonagle, P. Mogan; J. McGee, M. Langan; R McHugh, C Thompson, S O’Donnell; P. McBrearty, O. Gallen, A. Doherty.

Subs: D. Ó Baoill for McColgan (30); J. Mac Ceallabhuí for Gallagher (Inj - 48); H. McFadden for McGee, N. O’Donnell for McBrearty (both 60), O Doherty for Doherty (63).

Referee: B Cawley (Kildare)