Galway are through to their fourth All-Ireland Minor Football Championship final in seven seasons following a 2-09 to 1-11 win over Derry at Parnell Park.
Goals at the start of either half, along with some heroic defending across the hour, saw Alan Glynn's side into the decider with Derry left chasing the game from start to finish – although the Ulster side did produce a brilliant fightback in the final moments despite being a man down.
The Oakleafers looked like they would finish the first half with just a point to their name, but their fortunes improved in the final stages having been on the backfoot from early on.
Derry had enjoyed most of the ball in the early moments, but it was Galway who made the perfect start with Jack Lonergan profiting from some fine work by Tomás Farthing. The defender broke up the right-hand side and along the touchline in the fourth minute before finding Lonergan, whose goal-bound strike took a big deflection on its way past Ben O’Connor.
Éanna Monaghan, who was looking as sharp as ever early on, clipped over with his left after Galway worked a clever short free before Derry got off the mark in the 10th minute through Ciaran Chambers after a fine run by Johnny McGuckian.
McGuckian was alive moments later to snag on a dropped ball in the Galway backline but although his shot had plenty of power, it was straight at Kyle Gilmore who was able to palm it away.
Galway had their own goal chance at the other end, but Stephen Curley screwed his effort high and wide.
The Connacht side did stretch their advantage in the 17th minute though as a classy dummy from Colm Costello gave him the space to split the posts.
It was 1-03 to 0-01 in the 22nd minute as Owen Morgan was pulled down right on the edge of the area by Fionn McEldowney leaving Costello with a tap-over free.
Galway were defending brilliantly and countering with purpose, and they moved six clear four minutes before the interval when Shay McGlinchey strode forward, stepped inside and pointed. Moments before that, Odhran Murphy was clear through on goal for Derry only for Cillian Travers to execute a perfectly-timed tackle to dispossess him.
Martin Boyle’s side were clearly spooked and took a number of shots from distance instead of trying to work the ball into better positions.
Their frustration would break in the 29th minute though as Eoin Higgins blasted to the net with the help of the crossbar having picked up possession after a brilliant interception from Galway defender Vinny Gill.
Worse was to come for Galway as McGlinchey was harshly black-carded on the stroke of half time for an apparent trip on Danny McDermott.
Galway led 1-04 to 1-01 at the break, but the momentum seemed to have switched to Derry in those crucial minutes.
That proved not to be the case though as after two early wides, Costello collected possession, rounded Eoin Scullion and beautifully caressed the ball to the corner of the net. The same player added a free moments later after McEldowney had fouled Monaghan.
Ruairi Forbes' probing runs had been a feature of Derry’s run to the last four and a trademark point in the 35th minute was much needed, but they still trailed 2-05 to 1-02. Costello extended that gap further after a mix-up on a Derry kick-out.
With McGlinchey waiting for the next break of play to return to the action, Galway could have very well picked up a second black card after Farthing pulled down Odhran Murphy, but this time referee Sean Laverty reached for a yellow card.
Chambers did land the free to bring the deficit back to six points – and the same player landed another free in the 42nd minute when the lively McGuckian was fouled.
Monaghan then took over to put Galway in a super position heading into the final quarter, the Claregalway man landing three points from play in four minutes with Derry adding to their tally during that period through an Eoin Higgins free.
Galway led 2-09 to 1-05 heading into the final 10 minutes and with Derry chasing goals, Gill brilliantly got across to deflect a McGuckian effort over the bar.
Derry substitute Conor Downey added a point but the Ulster side's hopes looked over as McGuckian was sent off in the 57th minute after picking up a second yellow card for a high tackle.
They showed plenty of character in those final minutes though, Cahir Spiers and Chambers, from a free, bringing the gap back to three points.
A Chambers free in additional time reduced the gap further and the same player brought it back to the minimum in the 64th minute.
Derry had one last chance after working a free-kick into a shooting position, but it drifted just wide to ensure Galway’s spot in the All-Ireland final.
Galway scorers: Colm Costello 1-04 (0-02fs), Éanna Monaghan 0-04, Jack Lonergan 1-00, Shay McGlinchey 0-01.
Derry scorers: Ciaran Chambers 0-06 (0-04fs), Eoin Higgins 1-01, Ruairi Forbes 0-01, Johnny McGuckian 0-01, Cahair Spiers 0-01, Conor Downey 0-01.
