Galway hang on for dramatic late win over Mayo to claim 51st Connacht SFC crown

Galway are Connacht senior football champions for the fourth year in-a-row after holding off Mayo’s second-half comeback for a 1-17 to 1-15 victory in Castlebar today.

After a shaky start from the holders saw them conceding a Darren McHale goal six minutes in, a pair of Paul Conroy two-pointers (one from a free) steered the Tribesmen in front and the scores of Matthew Thompson and Cillian McDaid put them three ahead by the 23rd minute.

There was Mayo response on the scoreboard and scores from Sean Kelly and Rob Finnerty extended the Galway lead ahead of a superbly struck Matthew Tierney penalty making it 1-10 to 1-2.

Kevin McStay’s men ended their scoring drought with a McHale point late in the half which would be erased by Finnerty as the visitors went in at the break with a 1-11 to 1-3 advantage.

The Tribesmen have made it 4⃣in a row in the @ConnachtGAA Football Championship 🏆🏆🏆🏆@MayoGAA 1-15@Galway_GAA 1-17 Watch the highlights here 📽️ #MAYvGAL pic.twitter.com/rmCt7IBMjU

— The GAA (@officialgaa) May 4, 2025

Ryan O’Donoghue’s score from beyond the arc got Mayo motoring in the opening minute of the resumption and he’d chip in with two more frees either side of a Matthew Ruane two-pointer to cut the deficit down to four.

Another brace from O’Donoghue (one free) and a McHale point suddenly had the margin at the minimum come the 47th minute, and while Galway got it pushed out to two again, the points of Davitt Neary and O’Donoghue (free) had the scoreboard reading 1-13 apiece with 15 minutes to go.

McDaid and O’Donoghue (free) traded points before a Finnerty free was backed up by a point from ‘Man of the Match’ Conroy in the 65th minute.

Colm Reape swung over a ‘65’ for Mayo and they looked to be through for a late equaliser but Paul Towey’s effort was brilliantly blocked by Dylan McHugh and, from there, Joyce’s side were able to send over the insurance point via Liam Ó Conghaile on the break to seal their county’s 51st Nestor Cup success.

Galway captain Seán Kelly lifts the Nestor Cup after his side's victory over Mayo in the Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship final.

📸 @sebaJFdaly https://t.co/xcqBEmxVy6 pic.twitter.com/FCeBNuzwCR

— sportsfile (@sportsfile) May 4, 2025

"We earned every score we got." Galway manager Padraic Joyce was proud of the fight his side showed in their Connacht SFC final victory over fierce rivals Mayo. pic.twitter.com/XhYR01T5qL

— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 4, 2025