Armagh beat Galway to win their first All-Ireland in 22 years and just their second ever
Aaron McKay’s 47th minute goal was the crucial score of the game, putting Armagh in front for the first time and they held it - just about - from there to the finish as a wasteful Galway were left to rue a string of missed chances
Armagh 1-11 Galway 0-13
Armagh have won their first All-Ireland in 22 years and just their second ever after holding off Galway in an exceptionally tight final.
Aaron McKay’s 47th minute goal was the crucial score of the game, putting Armagh in front for the first time and they held it - just about - from there to the finish as a wasteful Galway were left to rue a string of missed chances.
After closing within a point following the McKay goal, Galway missed five opportunities as they went 14 minutes without a score at a crucial juncture of the game.
READ MORE:Armagh v Galway score recap and result from the All-Ireland final
Extra-time still appeared to be on the cards as they kicked two points to pare it back to one late on but in a hugely dramatic finish, with missed chances at either end, Armagh held on.
It completes a rare double for Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney, who captained them when they won their only previous title in 2002.
It was a typically cagey affair in the first half with both teams mirroring each other when out of possession and scores and shots at a premium.
Galway stalwart Paul Conroy scored a superb opener from distance, a skyscraper that just about cleared Blaine Hughes’s crossbar in the third minute but it was going to take more than that to draw Armagh out.
Oisin Conaty quickly replied for Armagh before Galway moved two clear with points from Liam Silke and a Robert Finnerty free, before the Salthill man was forced off with what looked like a hamstring injury.
If Galway could have stretched their lead from there, it would likely have changed the dynamics of the game but Armagh quickly drew level through a second Conaty point followed by one from Ben Crealey and from there to half-time it was tit for tat; Galway moving one clear and then being pegged back by Armagh.
With defences very much on top and goal chances of note, the sides were tied at 0-6 each at the break.
A similar pattern pertained in the early stages of the second half though Armagh introduced Stefan Campbell and Ross McQuillan 10 minutes in, with an immediate impact from Campbell.
He made a driving run from the left hand side and although trying to fist a point, his effort fell short, allowing McKay to sneak in ahead of goalkeeper Connor Gleeson and palm to the net.
Cein Darcy replied with a point for Galway but they spurned numerous chances to draw level, with an off colour Shane Walsh particularly wasteful.
Amid Galway’s scoring drought, Niall Grimley and sub Oisin O’Neill kicked points from distance to push Armagh three clear and though the Connacht champions rallied through Heaney and McDaid, again their wastefulness hurt them, with Walsh dropping a free short.
There were further chances in a captivating period of injury time, with Grimley hitting the post at one end and Conroy blocked at the other as he sought to force extra time, but Armagh had enough in hand to take the title.
ARMAGH: Blaine HUGHES; Paddy BURNS, Aaron McKAY (1-0), Barry McCAMBRIDGE (0-1); Connaire MACKIN, Tieran KELLY (0-1), Aidan FORKER (0-1); Niall GRIMLEY (0-1), Ben CREALEY (0-2); Joe McELROY, Rian O’NEILL (0-1), Oisin CONATY (0-3); Rory GRUGAN, Andrew MURNIN, Conor TURBITT.
Subs: Stefan Campbell for Turbitt (46), Ross McQuillan for Kelly (46), Oisin O’Neill (0-1) for Grugan (51), Jarlath Og Burns for Mackin (59), Jason Duffy for Forker (70+6).
GALWAY: Connor GLEESON; Johnny McGRATH, Sean FITZGERALD, Jack GLYNN; Dylan McHUGH, Liam SILKE (0-1), Sean MULKERRIN; Paul CONROY (0-3), John MAHER (0-1); Matthew TIERNEY, Cillian McDAID (0-2), Cein DARCY (0-3); Robert FINNERTY (0-1f), Damien COMER, Shane WALSH (0-2, 0-1f).
Subs: Johnny Heaney for Finnerty (11), Sean Kelly for Glynn (45), Tomo Culhane for Comer (66), Daniel O’Flaherty for Tierney (66), Kieran Molloy for Heaney (70+5).
REFEREE: Sean Hurson (Tyrone).
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