Live GAA Sunday: Mayo into final eight as Down and Laois clash in Croke Park

So that’s that ... Mayo edge Galway, knocking the 2022 All-Ireland finalists out and booking their own place in the quarter-finals. Paddy Durcan, Diarmuid O’Connor and Sam Callinan all with big performances, the latter with a brilliant goal to swing the game in the second half. While Cillian O’Connor’s return provides a timely boost. Monday’s draw will be interesting with some strong sides coming out of the preliminary quarter-finals.

In the Tailteann Cup, Meath hold off Antrim’s comeback to win by two points, and they’ll face Down in the final after their massive win over Laois.

Keep your eye on the homepage for match reports from all those games.

Thanks for joining us!

@DonoghueEamon

All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-final

Galway 0-12 Mayo 1-10

Tailteann Cup semi-finals

Down 8-16 Laois 2-12

Meath 2-16 Antrim 2-14

FT Down 8-16 Laois 2-12 Kerr fists over the final score of the game. 10 goals, eight of them for Down. And they will take on Meath in the Tailteann Cup final!

Down 8-14 Laois 2-12 (70′) Laois playing for pride here, Dylan Kavanagh on the end of a counter points on the run. Three minutes added on.

Down 8-14 Laois 2-10 (65′) Paul Kingston, a few minutes after scoring a beautiful point from distance, picks up the breaks under a dropped shot, and is fouled for a penalty. Barry buries it! That’s the 10th goal of this game.

Down 8-14 Laois 1-10 (60′) A quick free is sent in long and Kevin Swayne, who has done well since coming in, buries it. Seconds later Down take advantage of the wide open spaces once more, each man is out on front and takes on his man and at the end of it Danny Magill gets goal number eight.

Down 7-14 Laois 0-9 (60′) Evan O’Carroll carries hard and wins a free, he’s not giving up. Mark Barry curls it over and he’s also showing well in the second half. Where Laois are miles off is defensively. Miles, and miles, and miles off! In terms of their own forward play or winning contests, that’s not the issue.

Down 7-13 Laois 0-8 (54′) Laois are spared the concession of a seventh goal as Patrick Branagan somehow blasts an open goal over the bar. But shortly afterwards Rory Mason rolls in number seven. Laois are out on their feet, they can’t live with Down’s pace and running game.

Down 6-11 Laois 0-7 (49′) Laois kick three points in a row but then after holding Down scoreless for 10 minutes, the Ulster side breeze through from their own kickout, Odhran Murdock plays a one-two and then rolls in a sixth goal. Laois were wide open there.

Down 5-11 Laois 0-4 (42′) Liam Kerr bags a fifth goal for Down and this one is already over as a contest!

Mayo captain Paddy Durcan: “Just a relief to get over the line. And delighted. The goal was probably key in the second half and positioned us for the drive home. We knew we had a lot of work to do this week and some of it came to fruition.

“We are just happy to be in the quarter-finals and we will see what tomorrow morning brings.”

Kevin McStay: “A massive contest that could’ve swung any way and we got the nudge. The goal swung it and we played it out as best we could. That’s a quality Galway team and they gave us a massive contest.”

Man of the match, Diarmuid O’Connor: “It was all about doing the simple things right. It’s more of a mental battle and they won that battle in the first half especially around the middle. Momentum is a massive thing in this championship, this is a round we didn’t want to be in and tomorrow morning we have to get the bodies right and go again. It’s all about us.”

FT Galway 0-12 Mayo 1-10 That’s it. The referee blows it after the kick-out. Mayo show some rare, and brilliant game management late on, particularly to get their last point after a long spell of keep ball. They also finished the first half well and were unlucky with three point chances. They’ll need more of that in the quarter-finals and perhaps beyond.

Galway really missed Damien Comer in the second half, and Sean Kelly was clearly not fully fit while Shane Walsh was far from his best. Cillian McDaid only came to life when he moved back out of wing forward, and Galway need those key individuals to be firing to win these big games. Mayo have edged them in big games now twice this year!

It’s lashed in again and McDaid (again) gets a flick onto it. Reape gets caught in no man’s land but McLaughlin saves it off the line. It’s out for a 45 and this time it drops for Maher and his shot blazes over the bar ...

Last minute and Galway lump it into the square and McDaid fists it across goal but it goes all the way across and out for a line ball. One more attack to come ...

Galway 0-11 Mayo 1-10 (72′) Galway’s defensive effort was a bit tired looking there as Mayo handpass their way into an overlap and James Carr taps it over. Two point game.

Four minutes added on. Mayo playing keep ball in their own half for one minute and counting ...

Galway 0-11 Mayo 1-9 (70′) McLaughlin is turned over badly on halfway just after Galway sub Rob Finnerty did the same. McDaid and Cooke both do well and the former then shoots wide but it’s back for a free. Cooke limps off and Walsh kicks the free over. That was not easy. One point game.

Shane Walsh takes on a free from the right wing and it’s well wide. Two point game still after 64 minutes. They win the next kickout and come again with McDaid making a break and shooting off his left on the run and under pressure, but it’s wide again.

Galway 0-10 Mayo 1-9 (61′) Cillian McDaid picks up a soft free and from the left of the D Shane Walsh kicks it over. Galway having to fight for every score.

Galway 0-9 Mayo 1-9 (58′) Jordan Flynn with a diving interception and Mayo break (they love being in this position where their running game is probably the best in the country). Tommy Conroy gives to Coen and gets it again before fisting over under pressure. That was a massive run. He first got on the ball well in his own half. Matthew Ruane is on for Jack Carney.

Galway 0-9 Mayo 1-8 (54′) Sean Kelly again makes the break, and Paul Conroy backs himself with a high shot into the wind which squeezes inside the post. Galway’s first score of the second half.

Galway 0-8 Mayo 1-8 (53′) Coyne dispossess Ian Burke, Mayo counter with O’Shea the link man. Paddy Durcan plays a one-two and kicks his second point of the half on the run. He is leading the charge here.

Reape kicks Mayo’s fifth wide, a free from 45m out on the right wing. Not a great connection. 1-4 to no reply for Mayo, what have Galway got left in them? Sean Kelly doesn’t look himself and Comer is off. Mayo counter through McLaughlin who overcarries before scoring a goal. No doubt about the steps there.

Galway 0-8 Mayo 1-7 (49′) Paddy Durcan with a huge score from 45m, he gets right under it and the wind carries it over. The score of the game. Galway are carrying hard, McDaid and Maher, but Mayo are defending brilliantly.

Galway 0-8 Mayo 1-6 (47′) Cillian O’Connor, off his left pings over a beauty. What a player. That was his first involvement. Mayo go one point up! Colm Reape then makes a point blank save to deny Tierney. Sean Kelly made it, with a break and backdoor pass. Cathal Sweeney is on for Heaney

Galway 0-8 Mayo 1-5 (44′) Peter Cooke is blocked at one end by David McBrien, and at the other Ryan O’Donoghue scores a beauty. Then from the next attack McBrien comes up from defence to bury a GOAL and now Cillian O’Connor is on! Tierney then kicks a free wide from 30m into the wind. What a few minutes for the league champions!

Galway 0-8 Mayo 0-4 (40′) Mayo turn Peter Cooke over, McLaughlin carries hard. Kevin McLoughlin pops it to Diarmuid O’Connor who steps in and is fouled by Paul Conory. It’s tapped over. Galway cluster on one side and go long into it from the restart, and win a free.

Galway 0-8 Mayo 0-3 (36′) Ian Burke replaces Damien Comer who has his hamstring strapped up. Enda Hession is on for Jason Doherty on the Mayo side. Matthew Tierney wins the throw-in.

This is interesting/strange ... no doubt how Galway deal with their own kickout will be decisive.

FT Meath 2-16 Antrim 2-14 Colm O’Rourke’s team are into the Tailteann Cup final, they hold off the Antrim comeback to win by two points.

HT Galway 0-8 Mayo 0-3 Aidan O’Shea grabs a hop ball on Paul Conroy, Mayo come at pace with Sam Callinan making the initial break, the lively Kevin McLoughlin then backs himself from just inside the D but it’s another wide for Mayo. They finish strongly but with three wides. Galway were on top for most of that half but a five point lead isn’t anything significant playing with that wind. All to play for still. The midfield battle will be decisive in the second half as Mayo press the Galway restart into the wind, as was done to them. (Mayo won 9 out of 13 Galway kickouts)

Jason Doherty sprints out from goal and shoots over his shoulder from close range, but it’s wide. Nevertheless that was a good move by Mayo, they held the ball for a long period and when they went they cut in hard from the wings to create a good chance. Eoghan McLaughlin then kicks a poor wide at the end of a strong running counter move by Mayo. Improved play by the visitors, but poor shooting.

Galway 0-8 Mayo 0-3 (29′) Johnny Heaney kicks Galway’s sixth wide before Cillian McDaid floats one over to get them going again. The first big impact we’ve seen from him so far.

Mayo playing a bit of keep ball. But then give it away. How many times this year have we seen teams hold the ball for long spells against Mayo, when leading or playing against the wind or needing to slow things down. Something Mayo really struggle to do. Galway counter and kick another wide. They should be ahead by a lot more.

Walsh misses a close range free. That was very casual and very poor. Not a good sign for Galway. But Reape is under savage pressure from his kickout and Galway are just coming again and again.

Galway 0-7 Mayo 0-3 (21′) Galway finding their groove, Conroy mixes it up with a lovely floated ball inside to Tierney and Comer. The former grabs it. Sticks the hand up and taps over his mark. Walsh then drives over a free from distance. Six in a row but they need it with that wind.

Galway 0-5 Mayo 0-3 (18′) Mayo run into traffic, as they do, Galway counter from their D. Matthew Tierney carries and blasts a shot over the bar, but just about. Paddy Durcan covered serious ground to very nearly get a block in. Four in a row for the hosts.

Galway 0-4 Mayo 0-3 (16′) Damien Comer powers past a hard tackle and kicks a fine point on the run. He is looking sharp here. He then collects a lovely pass from Walsh and pops it to John Maher who steps into space and fists over. He loves that hard run to the right of the posts.

Shane Walsh kicks another wide, this time from play. Inches wide but Galway trail here by a point despite playing with the wind.

Galway 0-2 Mayo 0-3 (9′) Shane Walsh kicks one free over and another wide from similar distance. Damien Comer then catches a high ball and goes for goal from a tight angle but it’s easily saved by Colm Reape who is struggling with his kickout into that wind.

Meath have kicked on in the second half in Croke Park ...

Galway 0-1 Mayo 0-2 (6′) Tommy Conroy shows why he’s been brought into the starting team, cutting in from the left wing he breaks two tackles (takes a lot of steps) and points.

Galway 0-1 Mayo 0-1 (4′) Mayo handpass their way through the Galway defence with Kevin McLoughlin to the fore, Stephen Coen is at the end of the move and fists over with a goal on. Galway respond with a Peter Cooke point from over 45m.

Paul Conroy kicks Galway’s opening shot right and wide. Jack Coyne’s earlier attempt for Mayo got caught in the wind and dropped short.

Galway 0-0 Mayo 0-0 (1′) GAME ON! Aidan O’Shea grabs the throw in and is fouled. There’s always a wind in Salthill and Galway are playing with it at their backs in this first half. It’s a strong wind.

HT Meath 1-6 Antrim 1-7 Jack O‘Connor and Michael Byrne exchange points before the half-time whistle, giving Antrim a one point lead at the interval. Nothing between these two in the opening half.

One change for Galway: Sean Fitzgerald for Ian Burke.

Four changes to the Mayo team:

Matthew Ruane, Padraig O’Hora, James Carr and Conor Loftus are out. Jason Doherty, Eoghan McLaughlin, Tommy Conroy, Kevin McLoughlin come in.

Matthew Costello points to put the Royals one point up after 22 minutes. But a minute later Antrim score a penalty via Dominic McEnhill. Meath 1-4 Antrim 1-6

After the opening 15 minutes of the first Tailteann Cup semi-final of the day it’s level - Meath 1-3 Antrim 0-6. The goal coming from Aaron Lynch after 11 minutes.

It is a quick turnaround and we just have to try get the bodies right now and get the heads right

—  Matthew Tierney

[ ‘It’s do or die now’: Matthew Tierney knows Galway have to bring their best against Mayo ]

“It’s not that Galway can’t win the All-Ireland from here, if they get Comer back and harness many of the positive aspects I referenced earlier, they remain strong contenders. But last weekend’s defeat means they now have a considerable number of daunting hurdles to overcome if they are to be in the winner’s enclosure next month.”

[ Jim McGuinness: In the blink of an eye, my dark horse Galway became a shade darker ]

Mayo have managed to get themselves into a sticky old mess, somehow. Even by their own standards of making life hard for themselves, this takes the biscuit. How do you go from being six points up in the 57th minute against Cork and cruising to an All-Ireland quarter-final to needing to beat Galway in Salthill to stay in the championship? That’s just not a serious way to manage your affairs.

—  Darragh Ó Sé column

[ Darragh Ó Sé: Mayo have got themselves in a sticky mess and Galway can end their championship ]

I’ll admit I felt jealous of the players. That’s where you want to be, having to execute in the moments that matter. There is no more safety net. This weekend six more counties will exit the championship, leaving just 10 teams standing in the race for the Tailteann or Sam Maguire cups. These are the games that all the preparations have been building towards.

—  Jonny Cooper column

[ Jonny Cooper: It is business time in the championship - I admit I’m jealous ]

“Ultimately, the issue is probably more mental than physical. Mayo just haven’t been thinking clearly enough when the pressure has come on. James Carr fluffed a handpass to O’Shea on the edge of the square against Louth when a goal would have killed the game. Last weekend, the celebration of Conroy’s goal indicated a team-wide chilling of the boots. Within a minute, they’d coughed up a penalty at the other end.”

Check out Malachy Clerkin’s feature in full below …

[ Endgame frailties a source of real concern for Mayo ]

Would anyone put money on Mayo surviving a close finish? Probably not, but can they? Quite possibly

Check out Sean Moran‘s preview and prediction of Galway v Mayo, and all the weekend’s games here

Teams (as per programme)

Galway (SFC v Mayo): Connor Gleeson, John McGrath, Seán Kelly, Jack Glynn, Cian Hernon, John Daly, Cillian McDaid, Paul Conroy, John Maher, Matthew Tierney, Peter Cooke, Johnny Heaney, Ian Burke, Damien Comer, Shane Walsh. Subs: Bernard Power, Seán Fitzgerald, Sean Mulkerrin, Billy Mannion, Dylan McHugh, Paul Kelly, Niall Daly, Cathal Sweeney, Robert Finnerty, Cillian Ó Curraoin, Tomo Culhane.

Mayo (SFC v Galway): Colm Reape, Jack Coyne, David McBrien, Pádraig O’Hora, Sam Callinan, Conor Loftus, Paddy Durcan, Stephen Coen, Matthew Ruane, Diarmuid O’Connor, Jack Carney, Jordan Flynn, Aidan O’Shea, James Carr, Ryan O’Donoghue. Subs: Rory Byrne, Tommy Conroy, Jason Doherty, Enda Hession, Fionn McDonagh, Darren McHale, Donnacha McHugh, Eoghan McLaughlin, Kevin McLoughlin, Cillian O’Connor, Bob Tuohy.

Hello and Welcome ... The game of the weekend sees Connacht rivals Galway and Mayo clash in Salthill this afternoon, with the winner of their All-Ireland football preliminary quarter-final booking a spot in the last eight. This year’s league finalists, both teams put a dent in their All-Ireland credentials with losses last weekend. Mayo in particular fell to a Cork comeback while Galway were edged by Armagh. Who will bounce back?

We’ll be providing score updates of the Tailteann Cup semi-finals too throughout the afternoon, but our focus will be on the action in Pearse Stadium. Keep in touch via the comments section or on Twitter (@DonoghueEamon) but for now, let’s get started!