Goalkeeper Connor Gleeson was the hero for Galway as he landed a free in the sixth minute of injury-time from 50 metres into the wind to secure the Connacht SFC title for the third year in a row for the Tribesmen after a gripping final at Pearse Stadium.
Galway came from two points adrift at the start of injury-time to land their 50th Connacht title and complete a three-in-a-row in the province for the first time in 40 years.
Mayo manager Kevin McStay was forced to replace injured captain Paddy Durcan, with Eoghan McLaughlin replacing him in the half-back line with Mayo opting to play against the breeze in the opening half. Comer pointed and was then fouled for Finnerty to level after 18 minutes with his second free but then Mayo, who onloy converted seven of 15 chances in the opening half, hit three in a row, two of them built from deep after John Daly was blocked and then a Comer free from the left dropped short.
The possession stat was reversed in the opening eight minutes of the second-half as Galway, with 66% possession in that spell, drew level with points from Comer and Johnny Heaney, but they should have hit the front when Maher burst through but his shot was blocked on the line by Rory Brickenden, who managed to push the ball upwards as Liam Silke raced in but goalkeeper Reape recovered and won a free out.
Galway didn’t panic. Finnerty reduced the margin after 73 minutes with his eighth point, then Walsh pointed a free after sub Daniel O’Flaherty was fouled to level and from the kickout, the Tribesmen crowded Conor Loftus and forced a free and Gleeson kept his composure to land the winner with a brilliant kick.Goalkeeper Connor Gleeson wins a third Connacht SFC title in a row for Galway with a 76th-minute free📱 Live updates https://t.co/tgHPXffgo1#GAA #TheSundayGame pic.twitter.
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