Derry and Galway play out thrilling draw in Celtic Park

THRILLING CLASH: Derry's Conor Glass scoring a point as Galway's Céin Darcy challenges. Pic: ©INPHO/Lorcan Doherty

All-Ireland SFC Group 4: Derry 2-20 (2-3-14) Galway 4-14 (4-1-12)

Hold on tight. Otherwise, you’ll be bundled over the line or the greasy ball will slip away. After an absolute thrill ride in Celtic Park, Galway and Derry finished all square. Galway were eight down twice and somehow will feel like it’s one that got away.

A late Matthew Tierney goal, after a miraculous leap from John Maher to salvage a Kieran Molloy kick, had the visitors ahead in the final minute. It was Tierney’s second dramatic intervention.

Conor Doherty still had time to summon a deserving equaliser before the hooter. In dreadful conditions, it was frantic and full-blooded and occasionally complete carnage. As a contest, it was thrilling throughout.

There was an early announcement in the opening minutes. It came in the form of action rather than words. Sam O’Neill smashed Padraig McGrogan and sent him sliding. John Maher dived full length on his boot to force an early wide, Ciaran McFaul thundered into Seán Ó Maoilchiaráin during one of many high presses. The meaning was immediately obvious: this is championship.

Derry brought it. After nine successive games without a win, they were never going to do anything else. Galway travelled knowing another loss would leave their summer in grave jeopardy. As a consequence, there was needle all over the field. The first half produced five yellow cards.

Shane Walsh was super early on, cutting a pass back to John Maher for an early goal opportunity. His effort was well-saved but Rob Finnerty managed to punch the ball over the line in the resulting scramble. Walsh skipped past Eoin McEvoy for a second goal after 22 minutes. At that point, Galway sorely needed it. They were five points down and in deep trouble.

Derry led 1-11 to 2-6 at half-time having kicked 12 scores from 12 shots. The response to Finnerty’s goal was for a Conor Glass green flag at the other end thanks to a Diarmuid Baker burst and Loughlin fist across to the back post. Brendan Rogers and Paul Cassidy slotted terrific two-pointers from play, Shane McGuigan added another from a free.

Pádraic Joyce cut a frustrated figure at this juncture. He had already hooked Sam O’Neill early for Cein D’Arcy to address a serious kick-out issue. John Maher squeezed over the first point of the second half but Derry hit back with 1-4 without reply. Niall Loughlin landed their goal. Derry were in complete control.

The introduction of Damien Comer and a cross field ball by Finnerty to Tierney brought Galway back into it. Despite so much going against them, they never went away. Gaelic football fans couldn’t afford to either. This is the game now.

Scorers for Derry: C. Glass 1-3 (1 45); N. Loughlin 1-2; S. McGuigan 0-4 (1 tpf, 1f); P. Cassidy (tp), B. Rogers (tp) 0-3 each; L. Murray 0-2; C. McFaul, N. Toner, C. Doherty 0-1 each.

Scorers for Galway: M. Tierney 2-0; R. Finnerty 1-3 (1 free); S. Walsh 1-1 (1 free); M. Thompson 0-2, P. Cooke 0-2 (tp), D. Comer (free), S. O’Neill, J. Maher, P. Conroy. C. D’Arcy, S. Kelly 0-1 each.

DERRY: B. McKinless; D. Baker, E. McEvoy, P. McGurk; C. Doherty, B. Rogers, P. McGrogan; C. Glass, D. Higgins; E. Doherty, P. Cassidy, C. McFaul; S. McGuigan, N. Loughlin, N. Toner.

Subs: L. Murray for Doherty (44 – Inj); R. Forbes for McGurk (57); A. Tohill for Loughlin (60); E. Doherty for Toner (63).

GALWAY: C. Gleeson; J. McGrath, S. Ó Maoilchiaráin, J. Glynn; D. McHugh, S. Kelly, L. Silke; P. Conroy, J. Maher; M. Thompson, C. McDaid, S. O’Neill; M. Tierney, R. Finnerty, S. Walsh.

Subs: C. D’Arcy for O’Neill (19); D. Comer for McDaid, P. Cooke for Conroy (both 50); J. Daly for Walsh (60); K. Molloy for McHugh (65); J. Heaney for Ó Maoilchiaráin (67 – blood).

Referee: N. Cullen (Fermanagh).