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As it happened: Galway v Mayo, Connacht SFC semi-final

Could Mayo exact revenge on Galway for last year’s defeat?

Afternoon all and welcome to today’s liveblog.

Here’s how the teams will start:

Galway

1. Ruairi Lavelle (Renvyle)

2. Cathal Sweeney (Killannin)
3. Declan Kyne (Clonbur)
4. Liam Silke (Corofin)

5. Gareth Bradshaw (Moycullen)
6. Gary O’Donnell (Tuam Stars)
7. David Wynne (Moycullen)

8. Thomas Flynn (Athenry)
9. Fiontán Ó Curraoin (Micheál Breathnach)

10. Johnny Heaney (Killannin)
11. Paul Conroy (St James’)
12. Shane Walsh (Kilkerrin-Clonberne)

13. Michael Daly (Mountbellew-Moyclough)
14. Damien Comer (Annaghdown)
15. Seán Armstrong (Salthill-Knocknacarra)

Mayo

1. David Clarke (Ballina Stephenites)

2. Chris Barrett (Belmullet)
3. Ger Cafferkey (Ballina Stephenites)
4. Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis)

5. Colm Boyle (Davitts)
6. Lee Keegan (Westport)
7. Patrick Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels)

8. Seamus O’Shea (Breaffy)
9. Tom Parsons (Charlestown)

10. Fergal Boland (Aghamore)
11. Diarmuid O’Connor (Ballintubber)
12. Jason Doherty (Burrishoole)

13. Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore)
14. Cillian O’Connor (Ballintubber – captain)
15. Andy Moran (Ballaghaderreen)

Cillian O'Connor Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Sean Armstrong Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Mayo will play into the wind in the first-half. Here we go!

Galway 0-2 Mayo 0-0

1 min – Damien Comer has a point on the point after 21 seconds. Then Gareth Bradshaw doubles their tally. Great start by Galway

Galway 0-2 Mayo 0-1

4 mins – Mayo show good patience and Kevin McLoughlin curls one over.

GOAL! Kevin McLoughlin hits the net for Mayo!

Galway 0-4 Mayo 1-1

8 mins – Lee Keegan’s point attempt hit the post and McLoughlin reacted quickest to finish past Ruairi Lavelle. At the far end Daly levels us up.

The Galway full-back line is struggling big time.

Galway 0-5 Mayo 1-1

11 mins – Shane Walsh darts inside and slots it over. Galway back in front.

Galway 0-5 Mayo 1-2

13 mins – Cillian O’Connor swings over a close-range free to bring Mayo level. Bradshaw is booked for a shoving O’Connor after he took that free.

Galway 0-6 Mayo 1-2

18 mins – Heaney sends Galway in front with a lovely effort from distance. Mayo kick their second wide at the far end.

Galway 0-5 Mayo 1-3

23 mins – O’Connor’s latest free brings Mayo back on level terms.

Declan Kyne and Cillian O'Connor Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Galway 0-7 Mayo 1-3

24 mins – Veteran forward Sean Armstrong pops over a close-range free after he was fouled by All-Star Brendan Harrison.

Galway 0-8 Mayo 1-3

25 mins – Armstrong’s free from distance has the legs to sail between the posts. That’s his third.

RED CARD! Keith Higgins is sent-off for striking Damien Comer in the stomach!

BLACK CARD! Thomas Flynn is gone for a third-man tackle.

Galway 0-8 Mayo 1-3

31 mins – O’Connor sends over another free.

Galway 0-9 Mayo 1-5

35 mins – Armstrong converts a 45. At the far end Fergal Boland creates a score out of nothing and kicks a fine score.

Galway 0-9 Mayo 1-5 – HT

A one-point lead for Galway after playing with a strong breeze in the first-half. Mayo are down to 14 men afte losing Keith Higgins.

Galway 0-10 Mayo 1-5

37 mins – Comer is hauled down in front of goal and Armstrong converts the free.

Galway 0-11 Mayo 1-5

38 mins – Armstrong wins a good long ball inside and Eamonn Brannigan kicks the score.

Galway 0-11 Mayo 1-6

43 mins – Two points between the teams again. Diarmuid O’Connor opens his account.

Galway 0-13 Mayo 1-6

44 mins – Armstrong is six for six now from placed balls. He’s deadly accurate and his confidence is sky high. Second later Comer drills one over as Galway push up on Mayo’s kick-out.

Aidan O’Shea is about to be introduced for Mayo. They really need him.

Galway 0-13 Mayo 1-7

47 mins – Under severe pressure Andy Moran kicks a lovely score as Aidan O’Shea enters the fray. He’s at midfield.

Galway 0-13 Mayo 1-7

49 mins – Armstrong misses his first free of the day but it’s against a very strong gale.

Galway 0-13 Mayo 1-8

54 mins – Patrick Durcan, who’s been quiet today, kicks an inspirational score. Galway haven’t scored in 10 minutes.

Kevin McLoughlin Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Declan Kyne and Andy Moran Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Galway 0-13 Mayo 1-8

56 mins – Armstrong’s 45 goes wide. That’s Galway’s seventh wide now.

Galway 0-14 Mayo 1-8

59 mins – Gary Sice swings over a close-range free.

Galway 0-15 Mayo 1-8

59 mins – A second free from Sice leaves Galway four in front.

Galway 0-15 Mayo 1-9

60 mins – Galway concede a silly free and O’Connor makes no mistake. Evan Regan replaces Boland.

Mayo are forcing the issue a little bit. Much of that is down to their numerical advantage. They’re only playing Danny Kirby in up front and Galway’s spare man is cutting out the long ball inside.

SAVE! Johnny Heaney saves two balls off the line after Lavelle makes a terrible blunder.

Galway are starting to wobble a little bit. This is pulsating stuff as Mayo hurl everything at this.

Galway 0-15 Mayo 1-10

66 mins – It ain’t over yet. Aidan O’Shea wins a kick-out, passes to Kirby who finds O’Connor inside. His fifth point of the day brings Mayo to within two.

Galway are inviting Mayo on to them.

Galway 0-15 Mayo 1-11

68 mins – With that distinctive style O’Connor bombs a free over from about 60m out. Nobody is leaving this one early.

Colm Boyle replaces Donal Vaughan.

Danny Cummins is on for Michael Daly.

Mayo have six minutes of injury-time to force a replay.

Or, dare we say, even snatch a win. Galway haven’t scored in 10 minutes.

Micheal Lundy replaces Sice.

Big, big free from O’Connor here. He’s a long way out from goal but he’s done it before.

It drops short and the ref calls a square ball. Two minutes left.

Evan Regan takes an optimistic shot from way out and it goes wide. He needed to show more patience there.

Galway 0-15 Mayo 1-11 – FT

Galway are into the Connacht final.

That’s all from us. Thanks for joining.

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Kevin O'Brien
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