Armagh hold on in dramatic finish against Galway to clinch first All-Ireland SFC title in 22 years

July 28, 2024

Armagh's Oisin Conaty celebrates with manager Kieran McGeeney ©INPHO/Tom Maher

Armagh held on to claim their second ever All-Ireland senior football championship title at Galway’s expense this afternoon.

It finished 1-11 to 0-13 at Croke Park, where Aaron McKay’s 47th minute goal was vital for the Orchard men along with their resistance in the closing stages which was underlined by Joe McElroy’s inspirational block on Paul Conroy in the seventh minute of injury-time to deny the Connacht champions extra time.

An airtight opening half at headquarters saw the sides level five times before going in at the break on 0-6 apiece, with Ben Crealey notching the last score of the half for Kieran McGeeney’s charges to ensure nothing seperated the sides when they went in. 

Conroy’s third point of the afternoon got Galway motoring again in the second-half and they’d double their lead through Cillian McDaid in the 38th minute.

Oisin Conaty and Rian O’Neill pulled back points to square it again for the Ulster side ahead of Shane Walsh sailing over a sweet score at the other end for the men in maroon.

Tiernan Kelly and Walsh traded points before the crucial score arrived in the 47th minute and it saw Stefan Campbell making an immediate impact off the bench to set-up McKay to palm to the Tribesmen’s net.

Eight minutes would pass before Cein D’Arcy got sorely needed a response score for Galway, but it’d be erased by Niall Grimley before Oisin O’Neill’s brilliant point left the margin at a goal with four minutes left in normal time.

Padraic Joyce’s side dug deep to lash over points via D’Arcy and McDaid but they couldn’t find the equaliser against a wall-like Armagh defence, as Dylan McHugh saw his sliced effort come off the post and drop wide before Conroy was blocked brilliantly by McElroy to ensure the Orchard County’s first Sam Maguire Cup triumph in 22 long years.


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