Galway hang on to deny battling Mayo in Castlebar sizzler

Galway just about confirmed their red-hot favourites tag by landing their fourth consecutive Connacht Senior Football Championship title, making it back-to-back wins over Mayo in the final with a 1-17 to 1-15 victory in front of 27,127 spectators at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park in Castlebar, writes John Melvin.

The result leaves Mayo still searching for a Connacht title they last won in 2021, when they beat Galway a in a final played at Croke Park.

Hidden behind the scoreline is another heartbreaking loss for Mayo, who came from eight points down at half-time (1-03 to 1-11) to draw level (1-13 to 1-13) with 15 minutes remaining.

But just when they had drawn level for the second time (1-14 apiece) with nine minutes remaining, a short kick-out by Mayo goalkeeper Colm Reape was intercepted by Matthew Tierney, who was subsequently fouled, resulting in a black card for Rory Brickenden. It gifted Robert Finnerty a point from a free, which put Galway back in front again.

Two minutes later Paul Conroy added a point to bring his tally for the day to 0-7 while pushing Galway two ahead.

Yet the drama didn’t end there as Ryan O’Donoghue’s two-point effort fell short and then Enda Hession had the goal at his mercy but Galway goalkeeper Connor Gleeson saved at the expense of a 45' that was converted by Reape, reducing the gap to just one for the second time and the clock ticking down.

However, just before the hooter sounded, Galway broke downfield and substitute Liam Ó Conghaile landed a precious point to extend the gap to two.

It still left Mayo with the chance to force a draw and extra-time, but they needed a two-pointer. Mayo waited and waited before finally Matthew Ruane pulled the trigger, but his effort drifted wide - and with it went his team's chances of a Connacht title this year

Mayo dominated the opening 10 minutes of this game playing into a strong wind, scoring the first two points from Ryan O’Donoghue frees before Paul Conroy struck for his first of three two-pointers in the half to level the game on six minutes.

However, Mayo burst through a minute later to fire to the net, Davitt Neary cutting through the defence before laying off to Darren McHale who smashed the ball over the line, and you could hear that roar from the Mayo crowd as far away as Salthill.

However, the Mayo supporters had little to roar about for the next 27 minutes as Mayo were held scoreless before Darren McHale hit the target with their only other score in that half.

The game lurched dramatically in favour of wind-assisted Galway, who took control of the rudder around the middle of the field, Conroy picking off two more two-pointers, Cillian McDaid, Robert Finnerty and Matthew Thompson adding points.

The big score came from the penalty spot, Matthew Tierney firing a bullet past Colm Reape after John McGrath was adjudged to have been fouled as he bore down on goal on 29 minutes.

Mayo desperately needed a score but Com Reape’s effort from a free from outside the arc drifted wide, McHale getting a badly-needed point but Finnerty, with a free, putting Galway seemingly in control at the break at 1-11 to 1-3.

An early second-half two-pointer from O’Donoghue set the tone as Mayo now had the wind at their backs in the second half. They rattled off a string of points, substitute Paul Towey, Davitt Neary, Ruane with a two-pointer and O’Donoghue with a free and an audacious fisted pointed from an impossible angle cutting Galway’s lead to a point before a lung-busting run by McDaid ended in a free which restored Galway’s two-point lead.

Mayo did draw level on two occasions and had at least three chances to take the lead but misfortune once again was an unwanted visitor to MacHale Park as the black card shown to Brickenden was a significant moment in what was a rousing game.

Kevin McStay's men can now start preparing for Cavan in the opening game in the group stages of the All-Ireland series.

Scorers for Mayo: R. O’Donoghue 0-9 (6f, 1tp), D. McHale 1-2, M. Ruane 0-2 (1tp), D. Neary, C. Reape (45') 0-1 each.

Scorers for Galway: P. Conroy 0-7 (2tp, 1tpf), R. Finnerty 0-4 (3f), M. Tierney 1-2 (1-0p), C. McDaid 0-2, M. Thompson, L. Ó Conghaile 0-1 each.

*See Tuesday's print edition for a full report and reaction