DETERMINED: Galway wing-back Declan Meehan challenges Donegal veteran Brian Roper during the All-Ireland senior football Round 4 qualifier in Markievicz Park, Sligo. Photo: Ray Ryan / SPORTSFILE

Galway 0-13

Donegal 0-14

After an early season that promised so much, Galway footballers were dumped out of the All-Ireland championship at the qualifier stage by a Donegal side fresh on the back of a season-rescuing victory over Derry.

That win in Ballybofey meant that all the momentum was with the Ulster side coming into the encounter in Markievicz Park and John Joe Doherty’s men inflicted a second one-point defeat on Galway in six days, a bitter pill to swallow for the Galway men.

From the first whistle, the Tribesmen looked like a side in mourning and that they eventually fell by the smallest of margins is a credit to their determination and individual attacking flair.

With six minutes on the clock, Donegal found themselves three points to the good, with frees from Colm McFadden and Michael Murphy (two). Sean Armstrong and Paul Conroy reduced the lead to one, but Leo McLoone and another Murphy freehanded Donegal a three-point advantage after 20 minutes.

Michael Meehan slotted in a 50-metre free two minutes later and Galway should have hit the front soon after, but Matthew Clancy was foiled by the Donegal back line with the goal at his mercy. Keeper Michael Boyle stopped the Oughterard man, but in doing so picked the ball off the ground and was penalised, a free that Meehan dispatched with ease.

Clancy was becoming increasingly involved in affairs and broke from wing-forward twice in two minutes to kick excellent points, either side of a score each for Murphy and McFadden that kept Donegal a point in ascendancy.

However, Conroy finished off a fine Galway move with style to send the teams in level at seven points each at the break.

Immediately from the restart, Garreth Bradshaw landed a fine point after Armstrong was first to the loose ball to push the Tribesmen ahead. McFadden levelled matters soon after, but Padraig Joyce fisted a score to edge Galway in front once more.

Clancy had the chance to make the lead four points, but Barry Monaghan cleared his goal-bound shot off the line and crucially, Michael Meehan hit the post with his fisted rebound.

Adrian Faherty spectacularly tipped McFadden’s rasping effort over the bar to level affairs soon after but points from Kieran Fitzgerald and Armstrong looked to have given Galway the upper hand.

However, four on the bounce from McFadden, Murphy, Rory Kavanagh and substitute David Walsh swung control firmly back into Donegal hands.

Meehan pointed from close range with five minutes remaining to close the gap to one, but Diarmuid Blake was belatedly shown the line after picking up two bookings a minute later.

After McFadden had increased the gap once more, Meehan again pointed to give the Tribes some hope, but when Bradshaw’s late effort drifted wide, the hope faded into the agony of an exit.

Galway: A Faherty; K Fitzgerald (0-1), F Hanley, D Burke; G Bradshaw (0-1), D Blake, D Meehan; J Bergin, N Coleman; S Armstrong (0-2), P Joyce (0-1), P Conroy (0-2); M Clancy (0-2), M Meehan (0-4, 0-2f), N Joyce. Subs: C Bane for Conroy (53), B Cullinane for N Joyce (65).

Donegal: M Boyle; F McGlynn, N McGee, K Lacey; B Dunnion, B Monaghan, E McGee; B Boyle, K Cassidy; R Kavanagh (0-1), B Roper, L McLoone (0-1); C Dunne, M Murphy (0-5f), C McFadden (0-6, 0-4f). Subs: D Walsh (0-1) for McLoone (46), J Gallagher for McGlynn (49), E Wade for Dunnion (63). 

Referee: Rory Hickey (Clare)  

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