Good afternoon and welcome to The42′s live coverage of the All-Ireland Qualifier Round 3B clash between Galway and Derry in Salthill.

It’s the second of three huge games on what is a busy GAA Saturday as these two sides continue on the road to Croke Park.

Throw-in is at 5pm and we look forward to hearing from you in the usual ways. Tweet us @The42GAA, find us on Facebook, send your emails to ryan@the42.ie or leave a comment below.

Here’s a look at the teams for this evening’s intriguing contest.

Galway boss Kevin Walsh has made one change with Danny Cummins handed a start in attack and Sean Denvir making way.

Derry, meanwhile, are unchanged for this clash out West.

Galway

1. Brian O’Donoghue (Claregalway)

2. Johnny Duane (St James)
3. Finian Hanley (Salthill/Knocknacarra)
4. Cathal Sweeney (Killannin)

5. Liam Silke (Corofin)
6. Gary O’Donnell (Tuam Stars)
7. Gareth Bradshaw (Moycullen)

8. Fiontan O’Curroin (Micheal Breathnach)
9. Tomas Flynn (Athenry)

10. Gary Sice (Corofin)
11. Paul Conroy (Capt) (St James)
12. Michael Lundy (Corofin)

13. Peadar Og O’Griofa (Micheal Breathnach)
14. Damien Comer (Annaghdown)
15. Danny Cummins (Claregalway)

Derry

1. Thomas Mallon (An Lúb)

2. Oisín Duffy (Forghleann)
3. Chrissy McKaigue (Sleacht Néill)
4. Dermot McBride (Baile na Scrine)

5. Liam McGoldrick (Eoghan Rua)
6. Brendan Rogers (Sleacht Néill)
7. Sean Leo McGoldrick (Eoghan Rua)

8. Niall Holly (Eoghan Rua)
9. Fergal Doherty (Baile Eachaidh)

10. Benny Heron (Baile na Scrine)
11. Mark Lynch (Capt) (Beannchar)
12. Enda Lynn (Grainloch)

13. Daniel Heavron (Machaire Fíolta)
14. Eoin Bradley (Gleann an Iolair)
15. Cailean O’Boyle (Leamhaigh)

It’s absolutely tipping it down in Galway and unfortunately it looks to be having an impact on the numbers coming through the turnstiles. Sky’s touchline reporter Damian Lawlor says no more than 2,000 is the expected attendance.

While we wait for the action to get under-way, here’s a look at the two managers:

SkySports SkySports

Right, both sides have emerged from the sanctuary of the dressing rooms and we’re nearly all set. The rain continues to hammer down and, as you would expect out West, there is a strong gale blowing across the ground.

Galway get proceedings under-way.

The wind really isn’t assisting either side in this first period.

There has only been two previous championship meetings between these two with Galway prevailing on both occasions. They’re making the early running here but we’re still scoreless.

Derry have started in a tight defensive formation and are playing safe in the early exchanges as both sides settle into the game.

Galway 0-0 Derry 0-1

Derry are up and running with a fantastic point from Eoin Bradley wide on the left wing. His effort is assisted by the wind as it sails between the posts.

Galway 0-0 Derry 0-2

It’s the visitors who have adapted to conditions best and they’ve doubled their lead. Sean Leo was fouled and Benny Heron steps up to convert the free.

Galway 0-0 Derry 0-3

Eight minutes in and Galway have yet to warm to the task as Daniel Heavron fires over another point for the visitors. It could have be more after Derry cut through the Galway defence but Heavron was content to take the point.

Galway 0-1 Derry 0-3

The hosts are on the board and that’s what they needed just to settle down. Fiontáin Ó Curraoin drives at the Derry defence and wins the free. Gary Sice makes no mistake.

Galway 0-1 Derry 0-3

Derry are keeping things simple and it’s working a treat. The crowd are trying to get behind their team, urging Galway forward but the home side breath a huge sigh of relief as Cailean O’Boyle swivels and fires goalwards from close range but his effort is brilliantly blocked.

Galway 0-2 Derry 0-3

Danny Cummins registers Galway’s first wide of the day but Sice reduces the deficit from a free shortly after.

Galway 0-3 Derry 0-3 

It’s been one for the purists so far as we reach the end of the first quarter. Paul Conroy takes over the free-taking duty and scores his 15th point of this year’s championship to level proceedings.

The wind appears to be picking up as Brendan Rodgers sends one wide – his effort from the right skewing off his boot. 12 minutes since Derry’s last score.

Heron strikes the upright as Derry applied a bit of pressure on the Galway rearguard again. At the other end, Sice sends his effort wide of the upright. Plenty of mistakes.

Galway 0-4 Derry 0-3

Derry’s indiscipline has given Galway a route back into the game and again they concede the foul for Conroy to put the hosts into the lead for the first time. The Tribesmen have yet to score from open play.

Galway 0-5 Derry 0-3

Five unanswered points for Galway now and they’re using the wind to their advantage. Thomas Mallon’s kick-outs are barely going 35 yards and Galway have pushed up to apply the pressure on their opponents.

Nearly the opening goal of the game as Sice forces his way through but with only the goalkeeper to beat, drags his shot wide. The referee was playing advantage, however, and Galway will have the chance to extend their lead.

Galway 0-6 Derry 0-3

And Sice duly converts. Derry are putting themselves under all sorts of pressure and their indiscipline is proving to be hugely damaging. The crowd have found their voice and are urging Galway forward.

Black card for Brendan Rodgers as Derry are reduced to 14 men temporarily as they wait to make the change. Galway make their numerical advantage count as they win another free on the right.

Galway 0-7 Derry 0-3

Conroy with a beautifully executed free as he judges the win perfectly to dissect the posts. Having seen replays of the incident which saw Rodgers shown the black card, the Derry man can feel harshly done by. Anyway, Karl McKaigue is on in his place.

Four minutes until the break and Derry haven’t scored since the opening quarter. They’ve struggled to make it past half-way since but they’re flowing forward here.

Galway 0-7 Derry 0-4

And what a good score that was. After patient build-up, Daniel Heavron creates a yard for himself and fires between the posts with precision.

It’s one of those days in Galway.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Galway 0-8 Derry 0-5

A point at either end as we near the half-time interval. Bradshaw with his first point of the championship restores Galway’s three point lead.

HALF-TIME: Galway 0-8 Derry 0-5

Derry finished strongly and a monster free from Heron means they’re right in this game. A fascinating second-half lies ahead.

Derry started brightly but their indiscipline allowed Galway back into the game and the hosts took full advantage to take a stranglehold. The difference is just three points and it’s still all to play for in this second-half.

Here’s the scorers from the opening half:

Scorers for Galway: G Sice 0-5 (4f), P Conroy 0-2 (2f), G Bradshaw 0-1

Scorers for Derry: Daniel Heavron 0-2, 1, B Heron 0-2 (2f), E Bradley 0-1

Away we go and, believe it or not, the rain has got heavier during the interval.

There was one change at half-time with Emmett McGuckin replacing the injured Mark Lynch.

Disjointed start to this second-half as Eoin Bradley’s free from the right wing falling way short into the wind. It’s scrappy, very scrappy.

Galway 0-8 Derry 0-7

Two points in quick succession and the gap is just one all of a sudden. Daniel Heavron with a sweetly struck point and then Cailean O’Boyle gets his name on the scoreboard. Game on.

Fine play from Derry as O’Boyle shows great athleticism to gather the long ball and swivel away from his marker. He eventually finds Bradley but he pushes his left-footed effort wide – just Derry’s second of the day.

The Sky commentators say the wind has died down but it’s favoring Derry at present and they’re making hay. On this occasion, however, Heron’s radar is just off.

Cummins does well to gather and turn in one swift movement but his accuracy is off and his effort is tame and sails well wide.

Galway 0-10 Derry 0-7

Galway get the ball rolling again and they’ve struck twice in as many minutes. After a free from Sice, Gary O’Donnell has acres of room on the right and he makes no mistake to stretch his side’s lead to three.

The momentum has quickly shifted in this game and it’s now Galway on top.

Bit of a lull in proceedings as Derry bring in Patsy Bradley and Michael McIver. Not much to report other than a lot of huffing and puffing. Nearly ten minutes without a score from either side.

Galway 0-11 Derry 0-7

Sice with another free and Galway’s lead is four.

GOAL! Galway 1-11 Derry 0-7

Minutes after Derry had a penalty appeal waved away, Galway swarm forward and land the knock-out blow. Danny Cummins rounds off a fine team move with a clinical finish and Derry are up against it now.

Derry will feel aggrieved if they are to lose this game. The Ulster men feel a couple of big decisions have gone against them and none more so than that penalty incident. Cailean O’Boyle appeared to be hauled down with the goal at his mercy but the referee waved play on.

From the resulting play, Galway struck.

Big cheer as Shane Walsh comes on after a period on the sidelines.

Gareth Bradshaw has been named man of the match by Sky and he’s done a stellar job at wing-back. Galway just winding down the clock now as we head into the final few minutes.

We’ll have three minutes of added time and the end of this game.

Galway 1-11 Derry 0-8

Danny Cummins is shown a black card for tugging a Derry player back as they looked to break. Neil Forester scores from the resulting play for Derry’s first point in almost half an hour.

FULL-TIME: Galway 1-11 Derry 0-8

And that’s it, Galway advance to the next round of the qualifiers. It wasn’t a classic and certainly wasn’t pretty but the Tribesmen got the job done and that’s all that really matters.

Derry’s indiscipline cost them dear and they’ll look back on this game during their long journey home and no doubt rue a missed opportunity here.

That’s all from Salthill but remember the small matter of the Munster SFC final replay is just minutes away. All the action can be followed here.