Galway beat Donegal to set up All-Ireland final against Armagh

Paul Conroy and Daniel O'Flaherty celebrate taking Galway into a second All-Ireland final in three years

Galway edged a tense, tight battle with Donegal by 1-14 to 0-15 to progress to an All-Ireland SFC final showdown with Armagh in two weeks time.

The sides were level 10 times in a gripping semi-final which looked like it would follow Saturday's first semi-final between Armagh and Kerry by going to extra time.

However Galway, who had defeated outgoing champions Dublin with a sparkling second half two weeks ago, again finished strongly with a good final-quarter push as Donegal ran out of ideas.

Paul Conroy's fortuitous goal after 24 minutes was a huge score in the context of such a tight game.

Although Galway fluffed a second major goal chance late on, it did not prove to be decisive as Donegal could only manage one point in the last quarter of the game compared to Galway's three.

Johnny Maher, Rob Finnerty (free) and Liam Silke tagged on vital points in the last 10 minutes while Donegal were forced into rash pot shots as Galway sat deep to protect their lead.

Jim McGuinness and Donegal will leave Dublin with regrets as they were close to setting up the first all-Ulster All-Ireland final since 2003, while for Galway - beaten finalists to Kerry in 2022 - the planning for the 28 July decider with Armagh starts now.

Ryan McHugh is dejected after Donegal's defeat by Galway

Donegal scoring power dries up

Donegal have relied so often this year on scores from their defence and for once they were not forthcoming.

Their much-heralded attacking half-back line was nullified by the Galway half-forwards with Peadar Mogan and Ryan McHugh subdued while Galway half-backs Dylan McHugh and Liam Silke hit 0-4 between them.

It was midfielder Michael Langan, with 0-4 from play, who came good for Donegal with vital points but the Ulster champions could not get the spread of scores they needed.

Oisin Gallen has been their only consistent scoring forward all year and he hit 0-3 from play but missed two easy chances, one from a free, in the second half while Langan and Mogan hit rash wides down the stretch.

What must benched Donegal skipper Patrick McBrearty have been thinking at that stage, called ashore with over 10 minutes to play.

He scored a majestic point early in the second half and has a track record of coming up with clutch points in big games, but that is just one of many imponderables Donegal will reflect on over the coming weeks and months.

The loss of Eoin Ban Gallagher in the 48th minute was also huge.

He appeared to sustain a hamstring injury after being tripped by Johnny Maher and his absence was a blow because he had marshalled Galway dangerman Shane Walsh well and his movement was causing the opposition problems.

While Galway captain Sean Kelly was a late withdrawal and played no part in the game through injury, Walsh and Damien Comer were their other big injury doubts and did not have a big impact.

Brendan McCole held Comer scoreless and Walsh scored just once from play and it was Rob Finnerty plus the Galway half-backs who did the damage.

Jim McGuinness goes over to shake hands with his captain Patrick McBrearty after substituting him in the 59th minute

Paul Conroy's goal had more than a touch of luck about it in the first half.

His attempt at a point dropped short and the ball bounced in front of Shaun Patton, who was distracted by the presence of Matthew Tierney and allowed it past him into the net.

Conroy followed up with one of his thunderous trademark scores but Donegal seemed to have recovered from the setback with McBrearty, Langan and Gallen all on target.

Galway had a lot of joy winning their own kick-outs when they went long and yet they could transition quickly and filter bodies back, to out-Donegal Donegal in a way, which flustered McGuinness' side more as the game wore on.

Leading 0-13 to 1-9 after 42 minutes, the game was there for Donegal but they only managed two more points for the rest of the game.

Five wides and four more attempts that dropped short is the damning second-half stat that hurt them most and an uncertain final quarter from them, while Galway's belief and confidence soared, proved fatal.

Whoever now wins the All-Ireland will end their county's long wait for the Sam Maguire, with Galway's last title coming in 2001 and Armagh's in 2002.

Donegal: S Patton; C Moore, B McCole, EB Gallagher; R McHugh, C McGonagle (0-1), P Mogan; C Thompson (0-2, one mark), M Langan (0-4); J McGee, S O’Donnell (0-2), C McColgan; P McBrearty (0-3, 1f), O Gallen (0-3), A Doherty

Subs: D O Baoill for C McColgan (30), J MacCeallbhui for Gallagher (48), H McFadden for McGee (59), N O’Donnell for McBrearty (59), O Doherty for A Doherty (63)

Galway: C Gleeson; J McGrath, S Fitzgerald, J Glynn; D McHugh (0-2), L Silke (0-2), S Mulkerrin; P Conroy (1-1), C Darcy; M Tierney, J Maher (0-1), C McDaid (0-1); R Finnerty (0-4, 2f), D Comer, S Walsh (0-3, 2f)

Subs: J Heaney for Darcy (57), D O’Flaherty for Walsh (63), J Daly for Fitzgerald (66), K Molloy for Comer (70), T Culhane for McDaid (70)

Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare)