Details
| Date | Time | Competition | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 July 2022 | 5:30 pm | Sam Maguire Cup | 2022 |
Match Report
Galway advance to First All Ireland Final since ’01
Galway have rubber-stamped their place in the 2022 All Ireland Senior Football Final, after outlasting a very passive Derry in Croke Park.
Two second-half goals by Damien Comer, ensured safe passage to the decider, the prolific forward in great scoring form this evening, Derry did not have an answer for him inside.
The Ulstermen had a great season this year, but a slow brand of possession football could not see them last today, as they struggled to cause real hassle for Galway.
A very slow burner of an opening half in the tie, Derry playing slow possession-based football, neither team really penetrating the backline, instead plenty scores from range which resulted in numerous wides, Derry just holding firm in a low scoring half.
Derry began the opening half with intent putting up a 3-0 lead after 11 minutes, Brendan Rogers with two of their three efforts, Galway had chances but failed to register a score until the 21st minute, Damien Comer finding the target before John Daly made it a one-point game with another from play, however, Patrick Kelly missed a scorable free to level the tie for Galway after the half-hour mark, Shane McGuigan meanwhile kept Derry ahead from a free after 32 minutes, their first score in just over 20 minutes of play.
Hawkeye cancelled out a 45 from Shane Walsh, it looked as if it had gone over from the replays but instead, Galway were still two behind, that was until Comer notched his second point of the evening into added time, leaving it 0-4 to 0-3 at half time, plenty of controversy at the end of the half, Galway to their credit should have been level at the interval.
Just as the second half was to get underway, Walsh’s 45 was given by the officials and we began the half all square, Walsh added three quick free’s to give Galway their first lead of the tie, something they built on right from the off, their attacking threat in the early stages of the second half was phenomenal, Comer finishing an attack with brilliant movement seeing his marker slip on the surface, his low shot going into the back of the net, Galway 1-7 to 0-4 ahead by the 46th minute.
McGuigan notched a free shortly after, but the Tribesmen were looking comfortable as Johnny Heaney fisted over the bar for a six-point lead by the 55th minute. Comer hit the net for the second time on the 63rd minute, a bizarre goal as derry goalkeeper Odhran Lynch was stranded out of his goal, Comer retrieved the long pass and hit the net from outside the edge of the D.
Despite McGuigan and Lachlan Murray hitting 1-1 late in the contest, Galway are fully deserving of a first final appearance since 2001, Derry wasteful at times but the tempo of Galway was unmatched as they anticipated and read the Derry playbook expertly to win by five.
Timeline
| Brendan Rogers | 4' | |
| Brendan Rogers | 13' | |
| Niall Loughlin | 21' | |
| 28' | John Daly | |
| 30' | Damien Comer | |
| Shane McGuigan | 34' | |
| 35+2' | Damien Comer | |
| 35' | Shane Walsh | |
| 38' | Shane Walsh | |
| 40' | Shane Walsh | |
| Shea Downey Emmet Bradley |
44' | |
| 44' | Shane Walsh | |
| 46' | Damien Comer | |
| 47' | Damien Comer | |
| Shane McGuigan | 48' | |
| Gareth McKinless | 52' | |
| Conor Glass | 54' | |
| Niall Toner Lachlan Murray |
54' | |
| 55' | Johnny Heaney | |
| Benny Herron Ben McCarron |
59' | |
| 63' | Damien Comer | |
| Shane McGuigan | 64' | |
| 66' | Damien Comer Billy Mannion |
|
| 68' | Robert Finnerty Dessie Conneely |
|
| Lachlan Murray | 70+4' | |
| 70+2' | Patrick Kelly Paul Kelly |
Past Meetings
 
(Round 6)
0-12 4-11NFL Division 2
Celtic Park (Derry)
Derry v Galway |
Ground
| Croke Park |
|---|
| Croke Park, Jones's Road, Dublin, D01 WY49, Ireland |
Diarmuid Kearney
Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.
Lachlan Murray gets the ball into the net, but only a consolation score as Galway are into the 2022 All Ireland Senior Football Final
Four minutes added
Shane McGuigan points after the goal
NO GOALKEEPER IN THE NET AND COMER HIT THE NET FROM RANGE, GALWAY LOOK TO BE GOING TO THE FINAL!!!
Conor Glass and Gareth McKinless both booked in the last ten minutes
Johnny Heaney makes it a six point game
Shane McGuigan points Derry's first of the half
Comer booked shortly after the goal
Comer hits the net with a great strike
Walsh with another free
Walsh with back to back frees Galway now two to the good
Galway lead for the first time as Shane Walsh points another free
Shane Walsh has his 45 correctly given after Hawkeye ruled it wide
Thrown in for the second half
Half Time in Croke Park, Derry lead 0-4 to 0-3, Galway will be cursing Hawkeye as they have a point wrongly overruled, interesting to see what happens from the video footage
Comer points from play. Galway finally get some change out of the the Derry defence.
Orr.....not. Hawkeye rules the point wide.
Shane Walsh points from the 45. A great score amongst the loud Derry fans.
Galway 45 to come, 3 additional minutes at the end of the half.
Shane McGuigan points off his left from a free. Derrys first in 20 mins, but they still lead by 2.
Kelly misses a very scorable free, could've had Galway level.
Daly brings Galway to within a point with a score from the top of the D despite Derry dominating possession.
McGuigan gets fed up and attempts to shoot from way out and it drops wide.
Derry hold possession as the crowd get behind them but there's not much by way of entertainment here.
Comer finally opens the scoring for Galway off his left.
Both teams exchanging wides, lots of long-range shooting but to no effect.
Rogers adds his second and Derrys third again coming up from corner back to point off his right.
McGuigan was through on goal but his low effort was blocked well by Kieran Molloy, a certain goal chance prevented.
Kelly fists onto the bar for Galway, should've been their first score.
Galway struggling to get close to the Hill which they are attempting to score into. Derry very tough to break down. Galway have kicked two long range wides.
Niall Loughlin points off his left, Derry lead by two after getting within scoring range twice.
Rogers opens the scoring off his right foot. Derry lead.
Paul Conroy kicks wide from long range, Derry holding Galway at bay
Underway in Croker, a fantastic day for a game of football
Derry make one change to their original starting XV, the usual Niall Toner replacing Emmet Bradley late switch. Galway are unchanged.
Both teams are facing the prospect of being in their first All Ireland final in over two decades with neither team reaching a final since being victorious, Galway in 2001 and Derry in 1993.
Welcome to the FinalWhistle.ie coverage of the All Ireland SFC Semi-Final between Galway and Derry in front of a big crowd in Croker.