Hello, and welcome along to our live coverage of the weekend’s second All-Ireland SFC semi-final.
Donegal and Galway face off at a sunny Croke Park, with a golden ticket to the final up for grabs.
Armagh stunned Kerry yesterday to book their place — who will join them?
Throw in is 4pm, with the game live on RTÉ 2, but we‘ll keep you up to date right here.
Team news
Several late changes have been announced.
Galway: Cein Darcy in for Sean Kelly.
Donegal: Jason McGee, Aaron Doherty and Caolan McColgan all start; Jeaic Mac Ceallbhuí, Daire Ó Baoill and Niall O’Donnell make way.
We’ll list the two starting teams in the next update.
Galway
1. Connor Gleeson (Dunmore MacHales)
2. Johnny McGrath (Caherlistrane), 3. Seán Fitzgerald (Bhearna), 4. Jack Glynn (Claregalway)
5. Dylan McHugh (Corofin), 6. Liam Silke (Corofin), 7. Seán Mulkerrin (Oileáin Árann)
8. Paul Conroy (St James’), 9. Cain Darcy (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
10. Matthew Tierney (Oughterard), 11. John Maher (Salthill-Knocknacarra), 12. Cillian McDaid (Monivea Abbey)
13. Robert Finnerty (Salthill Knocknacarra), 14. Damien Comer (Annaghdown), 15. Shane Walsh (Kilmacud Crokes)
Donegal
1. Shaun Patton (St Eunan’s)
2. Ciaran Moore (St Eunan’s), 3. Brendan McCole (St Naul’s), 4. Eoghan Bán Gallagher (Killybegs)
5. Ryan McHugh (Kilcar), 6. Caolan McGonagle (Buncrana), 7. Peadar Mogan (St Naul’s)
8. Ciaran Thompson (Naomh Conaill), 9. Michael Langan (St Michael’s)
Jason McGee (Cloughaneely), 11. Shane O’Donnell (St Eunan’s), Caolan McColgan (St Patrick’s Muff)
13. Patrick McBrearty (Kilcar), 14. Oisin Gallen (Ballybofey), 25. Aaron Doherty (Naomh Columba)
Galway 0-1 Donegal 0-0
3 mins – Dylan McHugh scores the opening point of the game for Galway.
The Tribesmen have strung together a few early attacks, and they successfully pull the trigger first. Oisin Gallen previously miscued a fisted effort for Donegal into Hill 16.
Galway 0-1 Donegal 0-0
5 mins – HawkEye is used for the first time this evening and it rules a Donegal effort out.
Galway, at the other end, have been reluctant to shoot and Donegal turn them over again.
Galway 0-2 Donegal 0-0
7 mins – Another wide from Donegal from the subsequent attack, Gallen this time.
Galway respond with their second of the day from a long Gleeson kickout and fast break; Robert Finnerty fisting over.
Galway 0-3 Donegal 0-1
11 mins – Shane Walsh splits the posts with his first free-kick of the day. John Maher, who has started really well, won it. Central, between the D and the ’45.
Galway 0-3 Donegal 0-3
13 mins – Ciaran Thompson and Michael Langan both get on the scoresheet for Donegal, and we’re level for the first time.
Donegal 0-4 Galway 0-3
14 mins – Oisin Gallen sends Donegal into the lead. He twists and turns Liam Silke and pops over a beauty.
Donegal 0-4 Galway 0-4
18 mins – Frustrating wide for Galway there. They had held possession for a good two minutes, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce. Liam Silke had a go from some distance but fired it wide, McHugh having made a brilliant run just as he kicked.
Donegal 0-5 Galway 0-4
19 mins – Donegal do what Galway couldn’t after a lengthy spell of keep-ball, Caolan McGonagle the scorer to put them back in front.
Donegal 0-5 Galway 0-5
21 mins – Shane Walsh squeezes over as the Galway attack starts to fire.
The ball dropped short at either end before that; first Walsh, then McGonagle.
Galway 1-5 Donegal 0-5
GOAL! Paul Conroy miscued his shot, but it went all the way in. The ball hopped and a Galway runner ran across goal to deceive Shaun Patton. A goal is a goal, how big could that be?
Galway 1-6 Donegal 0-6
27 mins – Donegal responded to the nightmare goal possession with a point through Paddy McBrearty, but it’s cancelled out almost immediately by a Finnerty free.
Galway 1-6 Donegal 0-7
28 mins – Ciaran Thompson nails an attacking mark.
Cein Darcy sees HawkEye rule out his pointed effort.
Galway 1-6 Donegal 0-8
30 mins – Gallen with a lovely score to make it a one-point game.
Galway 1-7 Donegal 0-9
34 mins – Conroy with another big score. 1-1 for the talismanic midfielder.
Galway 1-7 Donegal 0-10
35 mins – Langan hits back with another superb score into the Hill. The quality of scores are better with each and every effort.
One additional minute, can someone take the lead into half time?
Half time: Galway 1-7 Donegal 0-10
All square at the break. It’s been an entertaining game so far, with some of the score-taking exceptional. Paul Conroy’s fortuitous goal was a major boost for Galway, and a blow for Donegal, but Jim McGuinness’ side have responded well.
The Tribe were frustrated there as the whistle sounded mid-attack: Damien Comer had done really well to get out of the corner and the ball was being worked inside, but then came the half-time call.
Great stat on The Sunday Game there: of the game’s 18 scores, 1-7 has come from midfield. (That leaves just 0-3.)
“I think it feels like Galway should be ahead,” Sean Cavanagh begins on the panel.
Here’s a look at Conroy’s goal:
Galway have a goal and it's Paul Conroy whose shot appeared to be kicked short but managed to make its way all the way into the Donegal net
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 14, 2024
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Fintan O’Toole is at Croke Park for us.
Enjoyable stuff in first half, Donegal recovered well from concession of soft goal. Some brilliant points kicked by Langan, Gallen and Thompson.
— Fintan O'Toole (@fotoole13) July 14, 2024
Right wing of Galway attack causing Donegal lot of problems. Tierney ball carrying and hard running from deep, Finnerty has picked off three points inside.
— Fintan O'Toole (@fotoole13) July 14, 2024
Galway 1-8 Donegal 0-10
36 mins – Shane Walsh kicks a free into the Hill from 35m or so.
Galway claimed the throw-in and went straight on the attack, Tierney winning the free.
Galway 1-8 Donegal 0-11
38 mins – Gallen fires back with another excellent point. He burns Silke down the right before despatching from a tight angle.
Donegal 0-12 Galway 1-9
41 mins – Cillian McDaid points. A long ball was sent in, which Patten and others contesting completely missed, and it eventually found its way to McDaid who levelled matters.
Donegal 0-13 Galway 1-10
43 mins – Tit for tat. McHugh fists over his second point of the day for Galway.
Galway 1-11 Donegal 0-13
45 mins – A brilliant team score from Galway as they hit the front once more. Much better movement as they look for an opening, and Silke has the final say. The Tribe supporters loved it!
Galway 1-11 Donegal 0-14
48 mins – McBrearty levels the game – for the ninth time – with a free.
It came after John Maher was adjudged to have fouled Eoghan Bán Gallagher. It seemed to be innocuous enough, but Gallagher has since limped off with Jeaic Mac Ceallbhuí replacing him.
Donegal 0-14 Galway 1-11
57 mins – A helter-skelter few minutes, and then a lull, but no change to the scoreboard.
Comer is the latest to miscue an effort, which was ruled wide after going to HawkEye.
Earlier, there was chaos around the Galway goal, Gleeson and co. breathing a sigh of relief after a let off. First, the ball was cleared off the line, then stolen from the goalkeeper as he burst out the field.
But they survived, Gleeson eventually claiming a Thompson pointed effort. At the other end, Galway looked like they might score, but Comer was turned over.
There followed were long spells of possession, Gallen dropping short at the Canal End, before that Comer miss.
Galway 1-12 Donegal 0-14
59 – John Maher ends a lengthy scoreless period with an important fisted point. Galway lead.
Two Donegal subs: Niall O’Donnell and Hugh McFadden replace Paddy McBrearty and Jason McGee.
Earlier, Johnny Heaney came on for for Cein Darcy for Galway.
Galway 1-12 Donegal 0-15
61 mins – Langan with another phenomenal score. Inspirational stuff.
The teams make one change each, Shane Walsh coming off for Galway. We’ll try get confirmation of those and report back.
Galway 1-12 Donegal 0-15
64 mins – Disappointing wides at either end. First, McHugh for Galway, and then a Gallen free. Big chances.
Galway 1-13 Donegal 0-15
65 mins – Rob Finnerty puts Galway in front with a free on the ’13.
Thompson pinged for picking the ball straight off the ground as he dived in. Donegal raging with that call.
Galway 1-13 Donegal 0-15
68 mins – Conroy’s point crashes off the post and Comer is there to pounce but Patten eventually clears his lines. Daire Ó Baoill kicks an ambitious effort wide at the other end. Galway restart quickly and are content to keep possession. The clock has just hit 69.
Galway 1-14 Donegal 0-15
70 mins – Liam Silke puts Galway two points up!!! The Galway support erupt.
Four minutes added on.
We’ve missed a few substitutes down the home straight, but Flaherty replacing Shane Walsh and John Daly in for Seán Fitzgerald were the most notable ones.
Galway 1-14 Donegal 0-15
Two minutes to go, and Langan kicks a bizarre wide. He’s been excellent, but that’s beyond frustrating for Donegal. Two points in it still.
Tomo Culhane and Kieran Molloy come in for Galway, Comer making way. They win the kickout after that Langan wide, but lose the ball. Donegal have to go for goal here.
Galway 1-14 Donegal 0-15
74 minutes on the clock. Galway win a ’45. This should be it.
Gleeson puts the ’45 wide. Donegal desperately attack. They have to put the ball into the square!!!!
Galway clear their lines, Paul Conroy winning the ball and that is that.
GALWAY WIN BY TWO POINTS!!!!
Full-time: Galway 1-14 Donegal 0-15
The Saw Doctors’ N17 rings out around Croke Park as Galway advance to the 2024 All-Ireland SFC final. There, Pádraic Joyces’ side will face Armagh.
Dylan McHugh is named Man of the Match amidst brilliant celebrations. Galway finished much stronger, Donegal completely fading away on the scoreboard. Some huge performances, and again, the Tribe’s bench had a big impact.
Galway and Armagh will now renew their rivalry in the final, both looking to end lengthy waits for Sam Maguire glory.
