Electric Ireland MFC Semi-Final

Galway 2-12 Donegal 1-11

By Jackie Cahill at Croke Park

The son of former Mayo star Anthony Finnerty fired Galway into a first Electric Ireland All-Ireland minor football final since 2007.

Talented corner forward Robert Finnerty collected 1-5 for the young Tribesmen as they saw off Ulster champions Donegal at Croke Park. 

Galway will now play Kildare or holders Kerry in the September 18 showpiece back at GAA headquarters after producing an impressive display.

Finnerty was aided and abetted by fellow inside man Desmond Conneely, who claimed the man-of-the-match award after scoring 1-2.

That lethal duo proved too hot for Donegal to handle, although Galway did have to survive a late scare before booking a safe passage to the final.

Donegal ensured a nervy finish when Enda McCormick cracked home a smashing goal in the 57th minute to halve a six-point deficit.

But a stunning late point from sub Ross Murphy and Evan Murphy’s long-range free steadied Galway nerves.

The winners had goalkeeper Cormac Haslam to thank for a couple of fine saves, however.

Early in the second half, Haslam was out smartly to keep out Donegal joint-captain Niall O’Donnell before he pulled off a stunning double-save in stoppage time, the latter a tip-over from sub Gary Molloy’s effort.

But when the dust settled, Galway were through to the showpiece decider, a marked improvement on last year when they fell at the quarter-final stage to Tipperary.

In Finnerty they had a match-winner but Conneely was excellent too.  

As Galway battled against Donegal’s swarm defence, Finnerty and Conneely worked hard inside to latch onto long and diagonal balls.

Finnerty had 1-4 on the board by half-time, three of his points coming from frees, as Galway led by 1-6 to 0-6.

His goal in the fifth minute was the result of good work from side-kick Conneely, who failed to gather possession initially but worked hard to hassle Mark Curran into an error.

The ball broke for Finnerty, who finished expertly at the Hill 16 end.

With Finnerty also on song from placed balls, Galway went on to lead by five points, 1-5 to 0-3, with less than 18 minutes on the watch.

But Donegal, operating with just one man inside the 45m line at times, were still doing enough to stay in touch through joint captains Jason McGee and Niall O’Donnell, and Eoghan McGettigan at full-forward.

Fionnán Garvey opened the second half scoring for Galway with a monstrous point before goal chances came and went at both ends, Finian Ó Laoi dragging a shot wide before Haslam kept out O’Donnell.

Donegal suffered a blow with 20 minutes remaining when Seaghen Ferry was black-carded and Galway, who used just one sub in the entire game, moved six points clear with nine minutes left.

Aaron McCrea’s slip on the Hogan Stand side of the field allowed Finnerty to slip behind him and picking up possession with an impudent chip-lift, he transferred to wing-forward Ó Laoi.

Crucially, Ó Laoi took the right option and picked out an unmarked Conneely, who finished expertly.

McCormick’s goal did have Galway hearts fluttering but on the day, Stephen Joyce’s young guns would not be denied.

Scorers for Galway: R Finnerty 1-5 (4fs), D Conneely 1-2f (2fs), E Murphy 0-2 (1f), F Garvey, B Goldrick, and R Murphy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Donegal: E McCormick 1-0, N O’Donnell 0-3 (1f), J McGee (1 45), E McGettigan and P Mogan (2fs) 0-2 each, JD Boyle and G Molloy 0-1 each.

Galway: C Haslam; C D’Arcy; S Mulkerrin, C McFadden; A Quirke, E McDonagh, F Garvey; S Raftery, J Maher; F Ó Laoi, E Murphy, R Forde; R Finnerty, D Conneely, B Goldrick.

Sub: R Murphy for Maher (54).

Donegal: G Mulreaney; S Ferry, A McCrea, M Curran; A Deeney, JD Boyle, A McLaughlin; J McGee, K Gallagher; N Boyle, N O’Donnell, E McCormick; P Mogan, E McGettigan, O McFadden-Ferry.

Subs: O Shiels for McLaughlin (26), S McGrath for N Boyle (39), B O’Donnell for Ferry (b/c 41), G Molloy for JD Boyle (45), D Lyons for McCrea (53).

Referee: J Hickey (Carlow).