It took a last-minute point from a free by Padraig Joyce to save Galway's All-Ireland crown in a tense final few minutes at Markievicz Park in Sligo yesterday.
In those minutes Sligo's status as a possible football force seemed to have expanded beyond all expectations but Galway's resolve came through in the end and they earned themselves a replay next Sunday in Tuam.
Sligo's supporters in a packed stadium were on tenterhooks after Brian Walsh had edged them ahead with a goal which Galway hotly disputed. When the green flag was finally raised, it left the score at 3-7 to 1-12 in favour of Sligo and we had journeyed into the first minute of injury time when Sligo in their turn conceded a free which ensured Galway their replay.
It was no more than they deserved because they forced Sligo to struggle for long periods. Indeed, with two minutes gone in the second half, Galway were ahead by 1-7 to 0-3 and though Sligo hit back with a goal in the 40th minute, this was seen more as a reflection on Martin McNamara, Galway's goalkeeper, than as a sign of a Sligo revival.
McNamara had dropped a speculative lob from Paul Durcan and Walsh rushed in to force the ball over the line and cut Galway's lead to four points. But the champions did not appear to be all that worried until Sligo scored a second goal.
John McPartland seemed to have made a mess of an attempt to score a point and as the ball drifted across the goal-mouth, Durcan turned up in the right spot to flick the ball home.
Despite this, Galway showed no sign of panic and led 1-12 to 2-7 with little time remaining. But once again Sligo raced in for another goal. This time it was Paul Taylor and Nigel Clancy who set up the chance and Walsh won the jump for the dropping ball to deflect it past McNamara who had been left stranded by his defence.
Galway protested that Walsh was lurking in the small square before the ball arrived. But after a short discussion with his umpires, referee Paddy Russell from Tipperary ordered the green flag to be raised and Sligo were now ahead. A major upset seemed possible but Galway buckled down to their task and when their lively attack swept in on the Sligo goal, the inevitable happened for the free to be awarded in front of the posts and Joyce converted to force the replay.
It had been a lively match worthy of the championship and there were some fine individual performances. This was particularly true in the midfield area where Kevin Walsh and Sean O Domhnaill were well matched by Sligo's Paul Durcan and Eamon O'Hara.
In the early stages Sligo's defence came under severe pressure and were it not for the sterling performance of Nigel Clancy at centre half back, the home side might well have been overwhelmed. Their full-back line of James Joyce, Colm White and Mark Cosgrove were collectively at fault just before the break when Derek Savage slipped in for a goal without much opposition.
Earlier Peter Walsh, the Sligo goalkeeper, had been forced to make a splendid save from Savage as he and Padraig Joyce combined to outwit the cover.
Sligo had started brightly and were two points ahead after six minutes as Galway seemed to struggle to come to terms with the pace of the match. Once they did so, however, they seemed the better and better balanced side. Sligo did not help their own cause by missing some very good chances early on. Strangely enough one of the culprits in this regard was Paul Taylor, who is normally reliable from both frees and play. In all Sligo had 12 wides to Galway's seven.
Galway will be looking for some improved performances particularly from their defence. Perhaps the only player in that department to have emerged with credit was Sean Og de Paor.
