Resilient Galway pull it out of the fire with late revival

Galway 1-17

Mayo 1-17

(Galway win 3-2 on penalties)

IF this was a sign of what is to come from Galway under new boss Padraic Joyce, then the season ahead is certainly not going to be short of drama.

Six points down, the Tribesmen resurrected themselves in the closing minutes. In injury-time, the revitalised Adrian Varley netted a crucial goal before substitute Liam Costello kicked the equaliser to force a penalty shoot-out in this entertaining FBD semi-final played in front of a crowd in excess of 7,000 people at MacHale Park, Castlebar, on Sunday.

Galway won the penalty shoot-out 3-2, with new captain Shane Walsh, who finished with nine points on the day, 2019 captain Damien Comer and midfielder Tom Flynn scoring their spot-kicks, and Dunmore MacHales goalkeeper Conor Gleeson producing two smart saves.

Mayo wing-forward Brian Walsh, who also had a fine game and scored three points, took his side’s final penalty in an attempt to force sudden death, but he rattled his effort off the crossbar. The result meant it was Galway who advanced to this Saturday’s FBD Final against Roscommon at Dr. Hyde Park. (2pm.)

Although not in favour of deciding a Gaelic football game with a shoot-out, new manager Joyce was, nonetheless, delighted to secure another match in the competition and he paid tribute to his charges for showing great heart to come back from six points down with the tie heading into injury-time.

“Overall, that is the over-riding and most pleasing factor of the day, the fact that we were six points down and looked dead and buried,” he said afterwards. “In fairness to the lads, they stayed at it, and stuck with it. Gary O’Donnell won back a great ball at the end and the lads did well to work it down the field for Liam Costello to get the equaliser.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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