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 led by 0-07 to 0-05 at the break having played against the wind but while they led by three going into the final quarter, they were unable to close the deal and paid the price as Galway came with a late rally to secure the title in dramatic fashion.
Galway manager Padráic Joyce made two late changes with Cathal Sweeney and Kieran Molloy starting instead of Shane Walsh and John Maher but both of these switches were reversed before the interval.
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.
Galway, with just 34% possession, never managed to get ahead in the opening half, twice drawing level as Mayo set the tone as they built a 0-3 to 0-1 lead after 15 minutes with points from Matthew Ruane, Ryan O'Donoghue and Fergal Boland after Rob Finnerty had responded with a free for Galway after six minutes.
Damien Comer was Galway’s main threat and caused David McBrien plenty of trouble with the Mayo defender picking up a yellow card as he tried to contain the targetman.
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.
Mayo may them pay as Donnacha McHugh, Tommy Conroy and another free from O’Donoghue to lead by 0-06 to 0-03.
Finnerty pulled back an excellent point from play on the right and after O’Donoghue responded with a mark, Galway sprung Walsh but it was Finnerty who reduced the margin with a free after Comer was again fouled to leave it 0-07 to 0-05 at the break.
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.
Mayo somehow keep the ball out of their goal after John Maher's shot
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Galway hit the front for the first time shortly afterwards with a free from Finnerty after another foul on Comer, but Mayo responded and picked off four in a row, two of them from placed balls from O’Donoghue, another from Ruane and one from Jordan Flynn to lead by 0-11 to 0-08 after 52 minutes.
But Galway hit back, with their subs making a big impact as Maher, Walsh and Matthew Tierney made a big impact. Galway hit the next four points, two efforts from Finnerty and a free from distance by goalkeeper Gleeson tying the sides at 0-11 apiece after 61 minutes before Walsh drilled one over with his left foot to edge the Tribesmen in front.
Cillian O’Connor, who had been drafted off the bench along with brother Diarmuid, levelled and then Mayo, who had not lost a Connacht final to Galway since 2008, pushed for home as points from Ruane and Conroy left them leading by two at the start of five minutes of added time.
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.
Full-time: Galway 0-16 Mayo 0-15
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 5, 2024
Goalkeeper Connor Gleeson wins a third Connacht SFC title in a row for Galway with a 76th-minute free
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Mayo had one chance to equalise but Galway packed their defence and Cillian O’Connor’s effort from distance missed the target.
Galway: Connor Gleeson (0-02, 0-02f); Johnny McGrath, Seán Fitgerald, Jack Glynn; Dylan McHugh, Liam Silke, John Daly; Paul Conroy, Cein Darcy; Seán Kelly, Kieran Molloy, Johnny Heaney (0-01); Robert Finnerty (0-08, 0-05f), Damien Comer (0-02), Cathal Sweeney.
Subs: John Maher for Molloy (21), Shane Walsh (0-03, 0-01f) for Sweeney (33), Matthew Tierney for Heaney (52), Séan Mulkerrin for Fitzgerald (65), Daniel O’Flaherty for Daly (70).
Mayo: Colm Reape; Sam Callinan, David McBrien, Rory Brickenden; Eoghan McLaughlin, Jack Coyne, Stephen Coen; Jack Carney, Matthew Ruane (0-03); Donnacha McHugh (0-01), Fergal Boland (0-01), Jordan Flynn (0-01); Tommy Conroy (0-02), Aidan O’Shea, Ryan O’Donoghue (0-06, 0-04f, 0-01m).
Subs: Diarmuid O’Connor for Boalnd (45), Cillian O’Connor (0-01) for O’Shea (54), Enda Hession for Flynn (58), Conor Loftus for Coyne (65), Bob Tuohy for Carney (70).
Referee: David Gough (Meath)
