Shane Walsh held his nerve to kick Galway into the knockout round of the All-Ireland SFC and inflict defeat on reigning champions Armagh, who already had secured their place in the last eight.
It was a magnificent second-half display from the Tribesmen who had played second fiddle to Kieran McGeeney's men for much of the first half in what was a thriller in Cavan’s Kingspan Breffni.
There was much pre-match noise as news filtered through that talisman Damian Comer wouldn’t be featuring for the Tribe before the late changes from Galway boss Pádraic Joyce who made big calls to drop keeper Connor Gleeson and bring in Conor Flaherty, as well as moving last years’ Player of the Year Paul Conroy to the bench with Peter Cooke getting the nod.
Armagh were always going to make a couple of changes to the team announced, so it was little surprise to see Joe McElroy come in for last years’ Young Player of the Year Oisin Conaty while Crossmaglen’s Cian McConville got a rare start, with Stefan Campbell reverting to his super-sub role.
Armagh’s team were missing seven and Galway five players from the ones that started in last season’s All-Ireland final and it was the title holders that got off to a magnificent start with goalkeeper Ethan Rafferty stroking over his first two-pointer of the evening.
The Orchard side eased into control with Rian O’Neill and Peter McGrane stretching their lead before Shane Walsh grabbed Galway’s opening two points, with his right and then left foot.
Galway were fighting to stay in the All-Ireland whereas Armagh had players fighting for a jersey and it seemed they wanted it more as Niall Grimley (two-pointer), Conor Turbitt and Ross McQuillan posted scores.
Amazingly Galway only scored a single point from two first-half penalties.
Rafferty first denied Matthew Tierney with fine save and Rob Finnerty steered his spot kick over the bar. It simply didn’t look as if it was Galway’s day.
In contrast two points from McConville and more stunning two-pointers from Rafferty and Darragh McMullan forced Armagh into the driving seat.
An impressive two-pointer from Cooke and further scores from Finnerty and Walsh suggested that the Tribesmen had something to offer the second half, regardless of how comfortable Armagh’s 0-15 to 0-07 half-time lead looked.
And indeed, Galway did have the answers as John Maher fisted into the net only three minutes into the second half.
Cooke and Cillian McDaid had already pointed and when Walsh tagged on his fourth score, the gap was reduced to only three points with half an hour still to play.
Joyce’s men didn’t let up and with Finnerty and Walsh turning on the magic they levelled before Cian McDaid edged Galway ahead.
But it was far from one-way traffic, which made for a fascinating second half. McQuillan and McConville hit back level before Tiernan Kelly and Jarly Óg Burns put Armagh in front again.
The pendulum swung back and forward over last 20 minutes but with Finnerty’s cool finish under keeper Rafferty for Galway’s second goal it was Armagh’s turn to play catch-up and ten frantic minutes later Andrew Murnin had the Orchard ahead, but not for long.
Walsh, Matthew Tierney and Ciaran Darcy gave Galway the advantage but again the sides were level after substitute Stefan Campbell and Rafferty (two-point free) were on target.
However, each time Walsh stood up and steered his side ahead but Armagh failed to waver with Shane McParland levelling for the sixth time before the game came down to the last play,
Galway were in possession when the hooter went, a draw was enough given Dublin's win over Derry, but the Tribesmen sensed blood and they were gifted a free. That man Walsh kicked high and over to secure his side's progression in the competition with a morale-boosting win.
Galway: Conor Flaherty, Johnny McGrath, Sean Fitzgerald, Jack Glynn, Dylan McHugh, Sean Kelly, Liam Silke, Peter Cooke (0-03, 1tp), John Maher (1-00), Cillian McDaid (0-02), Robert Finnerty (1-04, 0-01 penalty), Cein Darcy (0-01), Matthew Tierney (0-01), Shane Walsh (0-10, 0-01 free, 2tpf), Matthew Thompson.
Subs: Daniel Flaherty for Silke (ht), Paul Conroy (0-01) for Cooke (ht), Cathal Sweeney (0-01) for McHugh (54), Johnny Heaney for McDaid (67),
Armagh: Ethan Rafferty (0-07, 1tp, 2tpf), Paddy Burns, Barry McCambridge, Peter McGrane (0-01), Ross McQuillan (0-03), Tiernan Kelly (0-01), Jarly Óg Burns (0-01), Jason Duffy (0-01), Niall Grimley (0-03, 1tp), Darragh McMullan (0-02, 1tp), Rian O’Neill (0-01), Joe McElroy, Cian McConville (0-03), Andrew Murnin (0-01), Conor Turbitt (0-01).
Subs: Tomas McCormack for McCambridge (19), Greg McCabe for Burns (ht), Stefan Campbell (0-01) for Duffy (53), Connaire Mackin for Grimley (58), Oisin Conaty for McMullan (62), Shane McPartlan (0-01) for McConville (64).
Referee: Noel Mooney.
Watch an All-Ireland Football Championship double-header, Monaghan v Down and Donegal v Mayo, on Sunday from 1.30pm. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to updates on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Sunday Game at 9.30pm.
