Happy All-Ireland football final day, one and all.
Armagh and Galway are going head-to-head for the Sam Maguire Cup at Croke Park this afternoon.
It has been over two decades since both counties lifted the silverware: Galway — inspired by a certain Pádraic Joyce — last won in 2001, while Kieran McGeeney captained Armagh to glory in 2002.
This is a novel pairing, but the counties have plenty of recent championship history and they renew their rivalry on the biggest stage today.
Throw-in is at 3.30pm, with the action live on RTÉ 2, BBC2 NI and GAAGO, but we’ll keep you up to date right here.
Team News
Here are the teams, as announced on Thursday and Friday.
One change a-piece from the semi-finals: Sean Kelly is named to start for Galway after a recent injury, while Connaire Mackin returns to the Armagh team.
We’ll update you on any late changes.
Armagh
1. Blaine Hughes (Carrickcruppin)
2. Paddy Burns (Burren) 3. Aaron McKay (Dromintee) 4. Barry McCambridge (Clann Eireann)
5. Connaire Mackin (Shane O’Neill’s) 6. Tiernan Kelly (Clann Eireann) 7. Aidan Forker (Maghery)
8. Niall Grimley (Madden) 9. Ben Crealey (Maghery)
10. Joe McElroy (Armagh Harps) 11. Rian O’Neill (Crossmaglen) 12. Oisín Conaty (Tír nan Óg)
13. Rory Grugan (Ballymacnab) 14. Andrew Murnin (Naomh Pól) 15. Conor Turbitt (Clann Eireann)
Subs:
16. Ethan Rafferty (Grange)
17. Greg McCabe (Shane O’Neill’s)
18. Peter McGrane (Ballyhegan)
19. Ciaran Higgins (Maghery)
20. Ross McQuillan (Cullyhanna)
21. Shane McPartlan (Clann na Gael)
22. Jason Duffy (Cullyhanna)
23. Oisín O’Neill (Crossmaglen)
24. Stefan Campbell (Clann na Gael)
25. Aidan Nugent (Cullyhanna)
26. Jarly Og Burns (Silverbridge)
Galway
1. Connor Gleeson (Dunmore MacHales)
2. Johnny McGrath (Caherlistrane), 3, Seán Fitzgerald (Bearna), 4. Jack Glynn (Claregalway)
5. Dylan McHugh (Corofin), 6. Liam Silke (Corofin) 7. Seán Mulkerrin (Oileáin Árann)
8. Paul Conroy (St James’), 9. Sean Kelly (Moycullen) – capt
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)
Subs:
16. Conor Flaherty (Claregalway)
17. John Daly (Mountbellew/Moylough)
18. Eoghan Kelly (Moycullen)
19. Daniel O’Flaherty (Salthill Knocknacarra)
20. Kieran Molloy (Corofin)
21. Cathal Sweeney (Salthill Knocknacarra)
22. Cein Darcy (Ballyboden-St Enda’s)
23. Johnny Heaney (Killannin)
24. Liam Ó Conghaile (Spiddal)
25. Tomo Culhane (Salthill Knocknacarra)
26. Niall Daly (Kilconly)
Galway change
Céin Darcy replaces Sean Kelly, just like the semi-final.
Armagh start as selected.
Fintan O’Toole and Declan Bogue are in situ at Croke Park for us to document the day — and by all accounts, the atmosphere is electric.
The 42‘s GAA team have been busy all week through the build-up. Catch up on some last-minute pre-match reading here.
Nice touch by Galway. All extended panel members are wearing the number 27.
Team > Individuals pic.twitter.com/n1d7ATFo2X
— Score Beo (@Score_Beo) July 28, 2024
Just under 10 minutes to go. How are we feeling?
There’s so many storylines going into this one. Will it be Galway ending a 23-year wait for All-Ireland glory? For Armagh, it’s 22, as they chase a second-ever title following that 2002 success.
The Tribe were here in 2022, the Orchard not nice ’03.
PJ v Geezer.
Opportunity. Rivalry. Glory. Let’s go.
Armagh break away from the parade as they pass Hill 16 and the stadium explodes. Galway soon follow them, and it’s time for the national anthem. What an occasion.
Former Armagh footballer Pádraig O’Neill is remembered before Amhrán na bhFiann. The uncle of Rian, Oisin and Callum O’Neill, he died recently. An emotional moment.
Galway 0-1 Armagh 0-0
3 mins – Paul Conroy with the first point of the All-Ireland football final. Great score.
Armagh sit right back and Galway own possession early on, before picking their moment.
Galway 0-1 Armagh 0-1
3 mins – Joe McElroy fists over at the other end to get Amargh off the mark. They get away from the short kick-out and level matters with their first attempt.
Galway 0-2 Armagh 0-1
6 mins – Liam Silke off the left after more patient Galway build-up.
Galway 0-3 Armagh 0-1
7 mins – Rob Finnerty scores his first free of the afternoon, from just outside the D. Came after an Armagh kickout malfunction.
Galway 0-3 Armagh 0-2
8 mins – Oisín Conaty with his second of the day for Armagh. Apologies, there was a mix-up on RTÉ commentary, so just to confirm it was Conaty, not McElroy, with the opening effort.
Galway 0-3 Armagh 0-3
10 mins – Ben Crealy finishes off a fine team score and we’re level.
Galway 0-3 Armagh 0-3
12 mins – First wide of the day, Aidan Forker for Armagh. Came after Galway lost a second long kick-out, with Armagh moving the ball nicely but they didn’t have the end product on this occasion.
Galway 0-3 Armagh 0-3
16 mins – Galway with a wide of their own, Cillian McDaid.
Side note: there is an injured seagull in the Galway half.
Galway 0-3 Armagh 0-3
18 mins – Damien Comer wide after a HawkEye decision. Remains over 10 minutes since Galway last scored — good defending from them earlier to clear their lines as Armagh threatened.
Galway 0-3 Armagh 0-3
20 mins – Conor Turbitt misses the opportunity to put Armagh in front with a relatively straightforward free-kick. Some puzzled by the awarding of the free after a collision between Rian O’Neill and Céin Darcy.
Galway 0-4 Armagh 0-3
21 mins – Darcy fires over at the other end. Big score for the Tribe after some great football.
Galway 0-4 Armagh 0-3
24 mins – Shane Walsh tails a free wide off his left. Armagh fouled during a promising Galway break, which came after Darcy won a throw-up after a scramble in their own half as Armagh attacked.
Galway 0-4 Armagh 0-4
25 mins – Forker levels it, ending a 14-minute wait for an Armagh score.
Galway 0-5 Armagh 0-4
26 mins – John Maher puts Galway in front after brilliant work from Dylan McHugh. Maher is having a big game, and he’s on the scoresheet now.
Galway 0-5 Armagh 0-5
27 mins – Barry McCambridge levels it after Armagh get another short kickout away. Level for the fourth time.
Galway 0-5 Armagh 0-5
30 mins – Walsh miscues his second free of the day. From a tight angle on the right, off the right boot, but he misses on the nearside.
Galway 0-6 Armagh 0-5
32 mins – Conroy with another monstrous effort. Inspirational stuff.
Shortly beforehand, Armagh threatened but Turbitt just couldn’t gather a long ball inside.
Galway 0-6 Armagh 0-5
33 mins – McElroy misses a straightforward attacking mark after a superb ball inside from Rian O’Neill.
Galway 0-6 Armagh 0-6
35 mins – Crealy levels matters after good work from Conaty. Armagh attack quickly from a free-kick, awarded for a Damien Comer throw ball in the corner.
Half-time: Galway 0-6 Armagh 0-6
So, that’s that for the first half. It was cagey and low-scoring, as many expected, with little to separate the sides. Let’s hope it opens up and gets a little more exciting.
Shane Walsh, Damien Comer, Rian O'Neill & Conor Turbitt all scoreless so far.
— Fintan O'Toole (@fotoole13) July 28, 2024
Not many beforehand would have had Ben Crealey, Oisin Conaty & Paul Conroy as the game's top scorers by half-time of All-Ireland final, all with 0-2 apiece.
“Tense” is how the RTÉ panel immediately describe it.
Stats relatively even, but Galway dominate the possession:c66% to 34%.
Half Time Stats in the All Ireland SFC Final@Armagh_GAA 0-6@Galway_GAA 0-6 pic.twitter.com/jF1WI1sf5W
— Gaelic Statsman (@gaelicstatsman) July 28, 2024
The main character:
Catch up on the first-half action here:
Leath am anseo i bPáirc an Chrócaigh⚡️
— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 28, 2024
GALWAY 0-06
ARMAGH 0-06 @Armagh_GAA @Galway_GAA #GAANOW pic.twitter.com/Be1Crsz5sT
John Maher and Oisin Conaty the players being lauded on RTÉ. No changes for the second half, they say.
Galway 0-7 Armagh 0-6
37 mins – Another huge score from Conroy. He has been outstanding.
Galway 0-8 Armagh 0-6
38 mins – Cillian McDaid with a crucial score, all came from a turnover and they broke at pace.
Galway 0-9 Armagh 0-8
42 mins – Walsh with a beauty on the turn to open his account. “Outstanding,” Éamonn Fitzmaurice says on RTÉ commentary.
Galway 0-9 Armagh 0-9
43 mins – Tiernan Kelly for Armagh. Tit for tat. Level for the seventh time.
Galway 0-10 Armagh 0-9
45 mins – Third time lucky for Walsh off a free. Armagh scramble defence after a turnover in the other half, but Hurson awards the free.
GOAL! Armagh 1-9 Galway 0-10 (Aaron McKay 47)
Instant impact from Campbell as he injects pace up the left-hand side and finds the incoming McKay, who palms home.
Armagh 1-9 Galway 0-10
50 mins – Rory Grugan is down receiving treatment, the stretcher is out. Looks like Oisin O’Neill is preparing to come on.
Armagh substitution: Confirmation of that change, O’Neill in for Grugan, who is stretchered off to a big reception. Talk of a knee injury.
Jarly Óg Burns may be coming on shortly, too.
Armagh 1-9 Galway 0-11
55 mins – Darcy brings Galway within a point, first score since the goal.
Armagh 1-9 Galway 0-11
58 mins – A really poor wide from Shane Walsh. Galway had serious momentum on the break after a turnover, Maher central to it all, but it all ends in a Walsh miss.
Armagh 1-9 Galway 0-11
59 mins – Darcy tails wide, with HawkEye confirming. Galway had another promising break there but were held up. Walsh won a free on the ’45 but went short — they really should have got a score off that.
Armagh 1-9 Galway 0-11
62 mins – Walsh backs himself from at attacking mark from distance, but drops it short.
Armagh 1-10 Galway 0-11
62 mins – Niall Grimley with a big score for Armagh. Two point game. Serious swing after Walsh’s latest miss.
Armagh 1-10 Galway 0-11
63 mins – Galway miss another scoring chance, McDaid this time.
Here’s the goal that has Armagh in the driving seat:
Instant impact from Soupy Campbell as he lays it up for Aaron McKay to find the net. We have the first goal of this year's All-Ireland football final.
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 28, 2024
📺 Watch on @rte2 & @rteplayer https://t.co/ZfZ9mA9XTY
📱 Updates: https://t.co/jRnWx24aDM
📻 @rteradio1 pic.twitter.com/jqzeCdo22k
Armagh 1-11 Galway 0-11
66 mins – Oisin O’Neill with a remarkable score after Burns canters into open space and sets him.
Armagh 1-11 Galway 0-11
68 mins – Darcy slots over for Galway, their first score in 13 minutes to put them within two.
Armagh 1-11 Galway 0-13
70 mins – Walsh drops another free short.
Aaron McKay sees yellow for a high challenge on McDaid.
Armagh 1-11 Galway 0-13
74 mins – Galway in possession, waiting for the perfect opportunity to pounce.
Armagh 1-11 Galway 0-13
75 mins – McHugh hits the post!!!! Outside of the right. Still one in it, was that their chance?
Unreal drama!!! Galway have a chance, Armagh turn them over and break. Post. One in it still. 76 mins.
Full-time: Armagh 1-11 Galway 0-13
Incredible scenes as Armagh win their second All-Ireland football title — and first since 2002. Absolute elation as they celebrate. ‘Glory Days’ rings out.
Jarly Óg Burns had the match ball at the end, and there’s an emotional moment as he embraces his father, GAA President Jarlath Burns, in the stands.
Rian O’Neill with a brilliant interview on RTÉ, paying tribute to his late uncle Pádraig amidst the madness.
What a win for Armagh, another All-Ireland final defeat for Galway after 2022 and it’s fair to say they’ll have some regrets.
Amazing achievement by Armagh. All-Ireland senior champions after four championship penalty shootout defeats in last 25 months. Remarkable resilience.
— Fintan O'Toole (@fotoole13) July 28, 2024
Gut-wrenching defeat for Galway. Kicked 0-4 in first 11 minutes of second-half, only scored 0-3 in the next 30 minutes of action.
— Fintan O'Toole (@fotoole13) July 28, 2024
Wides, shots short, hitting the upright, blocked down - just couldn't get the run of scores going when creating chances.
Jarlath Burns with a rousing speech from the steps of the Hogan Stand. “This belongs to you. Today is your day, because the GAA is where we all belong,” he tells GAA volunteers as he prepares to present his countyman, Aidan Forker, with the Sam Maguire Cup.
“Today belongs to Ard Mhaca,” he roars, with a big shout out to Kieran McGeeney.
Croke Park erupts as Forker lifts the silverware. Emotions running high as the RTÉ cameras flash to Geezer.
ARMAGH CELEBRATED WILDLY after holding off Galway’s challenge to claim the county’s second-ever All-Ireland senior football title.
- You can read Fintan O’Toole’s match report on The 42 here>
Relive the madness at the end:
Drama right until the end of the 2024 All-Ireland football final.
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 28, 2024
Scenes of joy as Armagh are crowned champions for just the second time.
📺 Watch on @rte2 & @rteplayer https://t.co/ZfZ9mA9XTY
📱 Updates: https://t.co/jRnWx24aDM
📻 @rteradio1 pic.twitter.com/vXtBqVJYeo
Absolute scenes at the end of the All-Ireland Final
— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) July 28, 2024
🏆🟠⚪️#BBCGAA pic.twitter.com/uKbHkF9ily
We’re gonna wrap up the liveblog here, but Fintan O’Toole’s match report is available to read on The 42 and plenty of analysis, reaction and colour will follow this evening and over the next few days.
Thanks for reading. Have a nice evening.
And if you’re from Armagh, enjoy every minute!
