A point from Shauna Howley with seconds remaining saw Mayo overcome their neighbours and rivals Galway to book their place in the All-Ireland Senior Football semi-final.

With time running out the game was evenly poised. Galway had possession but Ciara Needham intercepted and made a run down the field she passed to Howley who fired over the bar.

Mayo registered the opening score of the game when Deirdre Doherty hit over a free in the second minute. Sinead Cafferky followed up with a neat point to put two between the sides.

In the sixth minute Galway grabbed a goal. Lynsey Noone started the move and finished it off after a pass from Nicola Ward as Galway went in front for the first time. 

Doherty and Tracey Leonard exchanged frees. Ciara Needham got up to fire over the bar to draw the sides level in the 19th minute. A free from Róisín Leonard edged Galway back in front in the 24th minute.

Both defences had to be on top and there was some fine defending. Another Doherty free in the 27th minute saw the sides level again for the second time. Right on the stroke of half-time Tara Needham hit over a fine score to give Mayo a narrow 0-06 to 1-02 lead. 

Goalscorer Noone was sin binned for hauling down Aoife Geraghty in the 33rd minute. Roisin Leonard levelled matters again with a pointed free in the 35th minute.

Mayo had the ball in the back of the net minutes later but it was ruled out for a square ball. Mayo substitute Shauna Howley pointed a free in the 40th minute to restore Mayo’s lead.

An excellent point from Tracey Leonard and a pointed free from her sister Roisin gave Galway the lead again. It was end to end stuff. Howley was on target again with a free in the 44th minute to draw the game.

Aoife Molloy fisted over a fine effort two minutes later as the game changed in Galway’s favour. They had a chance to extend the lead but Tracey Leonard decided to play her free short minutes later.

Sinead Cafferky was fouled in the 52nd minute and Howley kicked over the free to draw the game for the fifth time. Galway had a chance to go back in front in the 54th minute but Kate Slevin kicked a free wide.

There was drama at the end when Needham won possession for Mayo, she passed to Howley who fired over the bar. Mayo ended with 14 after Rachel Kearns was sin binned near the end.