Galway deliver second-half stormer to pull their season back from the brink against Armagh
All-Ireland SFC: Galway 2-22 Armagh 0-27
More than just one game. In the end,
Galway
just about won their fierce fight for survival in the Group of Death, coming from eight points down at half-time to land a one-point win with the last kick of the evening – a cool-as-you-like it free by Shane Walsh.
It took a thundering second half display by the Tribesmen to eventually wear down the All-Ireland champions. In a repeat of last year's final, Armagh may have been already through to the quarter-finals, only losing here never entered their minds. Especially not when Galway edged in front close to the end.
By half-time, at which point Galway were playing second best all over Breffni Park, it seemed their passage might rely on what happened up the road in Newry. The scissors were approaching the string. Derry's narrow loss to
Dublin
ultimately sent Galway through in third, and they'll face an away preliminary quarter-final next weekend.
For Galway manager Pádraic Joyce, that's plenty good for now. After losing two All-Ireland finals in the last three years, exiting in the group stages this summer would have been hard to stomach. Clearly feeling the same, the entire Galway team responded in the second half.
READ MORE
Cian McConville in action for Armagh. Photograph: James Lawlor/Inpho
A sweet goal finished off by John Maher after 39 minutes ignited their comeback, Matthew Thompson denied close to goal moments earlier by Ethan Rafferty. After struggling to generate attacking motion in the first half, Galway were suddenly in continuous onslaught. Paul Conroy added a big point from play, Rob Finnerty too, and on 49 minutes they were level thanks to a two-point free by Walsh.
The remaining 20 minutes were pure helter-skelter. Galway briefly edged in front thanks to Finnerty and Cillian McDaid, before Armagh came again, the excellent Cian McConville scoring his third from play, before Rafferty scored another from out the field. The Armagh goalkeeper finished with 0-7, including three two-pointers.
When Tiernan Kelly and Jarly Óg Burns got in on the Armagh scoring act, the champions went three points up, and Galway's season once again flashed before their eyes. Replacement Cathal Sweeney got one back, before Sweeney set up Finnerty for Galway's second goal after 57 minutes.
The last 10 minutes were even more frantic. Matthew Tierney pushed Galway two points clear again, before Stefan Campbell pulled one back for Armagh. Then came another two-pointer from Rafferty, this time from a free, and the sides were level again.
Armagh's Rian O'Neill/ Photograph: James Lawlor/Inpho
One last frenzied exchange of scores – a Walsh point, then one from Shane McPartlan – kept it level as the hooter approached. Crucially, Galway had possession, and after Conroy was fouled just inside the 45m line, Walsh wasn't about to miss his chance. He didn't, finishing with 0-9 in all, right back to his best in the second half.
Any doubt that Kieran McGeeney's Armagh wouldn't bring their A-game was promptly dispelled. They held up possession until the third minute, when O'Neill passed off to Rafferty, well outside his goal, who booted over a two-pointer. Burns was handling a load of ball, and set up O'Neill for their next score, then Peter McGrane for their third – putting them up 0-4 to 0-0 before Galway could get a shot on goal.
Then on eight minutes Galway had a penalty, Finnerty pulled down by Paddy Burns. Matthew Tierney stepped up and Rafferty saved brilliantly, John Maher then sending the rebound wide. When Walsh hit Galway's first point after 10 minutes, they settled a bit. Walsh added a second, and things briefly appeared to even up.
The two teams had been almost inseparable for the last three seasons, but Armagh slowly pulled away. Nial Grimley hit a two-pointer for Armagh, Conor Turbitt added a point, and then Óg Burns provided again for Ross McQuillan. McConville then slotted over his first, and Armagh were up 0-9 to 0-2.
Shane Walsh celebrates with Galway manager Pádraic Joyce after the game. Photograph: James Lawlor/Inpho
Then on 30 minutes, Matthew Thompson passed off to Walsh, who was pushed over by Paddy Burns, giving Galway their second penalty. Finnerty stepped up this time, somehow blasting his shot over the bar.
Galway did add two more points before the break, through Finnerty and Walsh, but still Armagh looked in complete control. With Derry level with Dublin at half-time up in Newry, Galway at that point were facing the exit door.
That message clearly got through for the second half, Galway playing some of their best football this season, Seán Kelly chasing an inordinate amount of ball, Conroy also showing his old form once introduced after 33 minutes. Sometimes it takes some fear and desperate to bring out the best fight in teams, and Galway showed buckets of that in the second half.
More than just one game. 2-22 Armagh 0-27
GALWAY:
C Flaherty; J McGrath, S Fitzgerald, J Glynn; D McHugh, S Kelly, L Silke; P Cooke (0-1-1), J Maher (1-0-0); C McDaid (0-0-2), R Finnerty (1-0-4), C Darcy (0-0-1); M Tierney (0-0-1), S Walsh (0-1-7, 1tpf), M Thompson.
Subs:
P Conroy (0-0-1) for Tierney (33 mins), D O'Flaherty for Silke (ht), C Sweeney (0-0-1) for McHugh (54), Tierney for Cooke (59), J Heaney for McDaid (68).
ARMAGH:
E Rafferty (0-3-1, 2tpf); P Burns, B McCambridge, P McGrane (0-0-1); R McQuillan (0-0-3), T Kelly (0-0-1), J Og Burns (0-0-1); J Duffy (0-0-1), N Grimley (0-1-1); D McMullan (0-1-0), R O'Neill (0-0-1), J McElroy; C McConville (0-0-3), A Murnin (0-0-1), C Turbitt (0-0-1).
Subs:
T McCormack for McCambridge (20 mins, inj), G McCabe for Burns (ht), S Campbell (0-0-1) for Duffy (53), C Mackin for Grimley (58), S McPartlan for (0-0-1) McConville (62, inj) O Conaty for McMullan (63).
Referee:
N Mooney (Cavan).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
3 hours ago
- The Journal
Wins for Cork and Tipperary in All-Ireland camogie championship
WITH ONE ROUND of group games still to play in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie championship, the knockout picture is looking much clearer after Cork, Tipperary, Waterford and Galway recorded comfortable wins this afternoon. Those four counties, along with Kilkenny, will go into the knockout stages, and barring a truly remarkable result when Clare cross the Shannon to play Tipperary next week, the Banner County will complete the sextet. In order for Clare to be overtaken by Limerick, Tipperary would have to win that game by a 60-point margin. Technically, Tipp have cause to try and run up a score in that game since they could yet take top spot in the group, albeit they would need a huge favour from Wexford as well for that to happen. The Model County crew are rooted to the bottom of Group 1, bound for a relegation play-off, where they will play either Derry or Dublin, even if they shock All-Ireland champions Cork. Tipp are certainly in strong scoring form, as they put Limerick to the sword in Cappamore, 4-26 to 0-8. Róisín Howard (1-8) and Grace O'Brien (0-4) were among the main tormentors of the Limerick backs and they opened the scoring, with Karin Blair striding forward from full-back to add a third point. Emily O'Halloran and Sophie O'Callaghan battled gamely in the Limerick defence, while Sarah Gillane made a couple of excellent saves, but the pressure was relentless, with Karen Kennedy and Grace O'Brien scoring goals in a first half 2-12 to 0-1 landslide. Denis Kelly showed the depth of his panel by bringing on Jean Kelly and Lucy Purcell in the second half and they both raised green flags of their own, with Limerick taking crumbs of consolation from Orlaith Kelliher and Stephanie Woulfe each scoring of a pair of points from play. SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh was the venue for the other game in the group as Clare attempted to turn the tables on their 2-22 to 0-10 loss to All-Ireland champions Cork when they met in the Munster championship. The Banner couldn't make that leap but they were much improved, opening the game with a superb solo run and finish from Jennifer Daly for the game's only goal in the first minute, with Caoimhe Cahill adding a point immediately afterwards. Without ever playing to their full potential, Cork settled into the contest with an Orlaith Cahalane score after five minutes. They took a three-point lead by half-time and were 0-21 to 1-9 in front by the time the long whistle sounded. Advertisement Cork had 10 scorers in all with Saoirse McCarthy (0-5, four from play) their top scorer, complemented by some excellent saves from Amy Lee at the other end of the field. All of that means that Clare need to beat Tipperary to overtake their eastern frontier neighbours and go into second spot, Wexford will contest the relegation final regardless of their result against Cork, and the O'Duffy Cup holders just have to avoid a catastrophic defeat to make sure of top spot and straight passage to the last four. In Group 2, Waterford and Galway are headed for a showdown out west next Saturday, a game that will decide pole position and the automatic semi-final berth that comes with it. With the aid of the breeze, Dublin started brightly in Walsh Park and led by 0-6 to 0-1, but that was before Waterford's twin threat of Beth Carton and Niamh Rockett came into the game. Both players found the net midway through the first half en route to scoring 1-4 and 1-6 respectively, and with Waterford leading by five at the interval, the second half was one-way traffic. Abby Flynn and Annie Fitzgerald both found the net as the hosts ran out 4-16 to 1-11 winners. Kilkenny are cemented into third spot but Tommy Shefflin has work to do following a second defeat in advance of a quarter-final clash in Croke Park in a fortnight, as Galway were full value for a 1-17 to 0-12 win at UPMC Nowlan Park today. Again the breeze was a factor and it was Kilkenny who needed to use it in the opening half. Instead they held just one lead in the hour, 0-4 to 0-3 on the back of consecutive points from Caoimhe Keher Murtagh and Aoife Prendergast midway through the half, and just one more white flag before the break was a paltry return. Galway had to work hard for their scores, Ann Marie Starr creating one for Carrie Dolan while Ciara Hickey hoisted over a majestic effort that put two between the sides (0-7 to 0-5) at the turnaround. Kilkenny were at their best in the third quarter when the Laura-Murphy-anchored defence held firm, conceding just three points up to the 45th minute. Three was still the margin (0-13 to 0-10) going into the closing stages but again it was the Tribeswomen who came up with the big plays, one of which saw Aoife Donohoe set up Dolan for a point with a wonderful lift on the run and under pressure on the left sideline. Then Niamh Niland picked the pocket of a Kilkenny defender and swept in the game's only goal from a tight angle to kill the contest with a few minutes to play. Now Waterford and Galway have two chances to reach the last four, Kilkenny are idle next week and Dublin need to avoid a slip-up at home to Derry if they are to stay out of the relegation final. Written by Kevin Egan and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here .
The Journal
3 hours ago
- The Journal
Dublin edge out Cork to reach All-Ireland football quarter-finals as Kerry dispatch Cavan
The 42 is the home of quality journalism for passionate Irish sports fans, bringing you closer to the stories that matter through insightful analysis and sharp sportswriting. Dublin 1-19 Cork 1-16 DUBLIN PRODUCED A strong finish against Cork to book their place in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals. Tied with just over 10 minutes to go, Dessie Farrell's side reeled off four of the game's last five points to win with three to spare. The 42 Subscribers can read the full match report here (€) Advertisement Kerry's David Clifford with Evan Crowe of Cavan at full-time. James Lawlor / INPHO James Lawlor / INPHO / INPHO Kerry 3-20 Cavan 1-17 KERRY BOUNCED BACK from last week's nine-point drubbing by Meath with a nine-point win over Cavan to advance to the All-Ireland quarter-finals. David Clifford helped himself to 3-7 as the Munster champions eased to victory and put their name in the hat for Monday morning's draw. The 42 Subscribers can read the full match report here (€) The 42′s award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye.
The Journal
3 hours ago
- The Journal
Dublin stun Limerick to snatch All-Ireland semi-final spot as Tipperary also advance
The 42 The 42 is the home of quality journalism for passionate Irish sports fans, bringing you closer to the stories that matter through insightful analysis and sharp sportswriting. Dublin 2-24 Limerick 0-28 MASSIVE UNDERDOGS DUBLIN are through to an All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Cork after producing a stunning upset against Limerick. Two goals midway through the second half, which arrived within seconds of each other from substitute John Hetherton and Cian O'Sullivan, put the Dubs in a winning position at Croke Park. And Dublin, who had been reduced to 14 men following a red card for Chris Crummey, held on for a famous win. The 42 Subscribers can read the full match report here (€) Advertisement Tipperary's Oisín O'Donoghue celebrates after scoring a goal. Tom O'Hanlon / INPHO Tom O'Hanlon / INPHO / INPHO Tipperary 1-28 Galway 2-17 Tipperary are heading back to Croke Park for the first time since the 2019 All-Ireland final after a comfortable eight-point victory over Galway. The Premier will face Kilkenny in that semi-final on Sunday, 6 July. The result in front of 15,404 fans at the Gaelic Grounds also means that giant-killers Dublin will meet Cork the previous evening. The 42 Subscribers can read the full match report here (€) The 42′s award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye.
