Galway squeeze past Armagh as Derry bite the dust in All-Ireland SFC

Galway came from eight points down at half-time to secure a dramatic 2-22 to 0-27 victory over Armagh to maintain their interest in the All-Ireland SFC.

Then Connacht champions had only one point from their first two outings in Group 4 and were in bother at Breffni Park, against the All-Ireland holders who had already assured their passage into the last eight as group winners.

Ethan Rafferty, who also scored seven points, in the Armagh goal saved an early Matthew Tierney penalty, then Rob Finnerty put a second spot kick over the crossbar. However, both John Maher and Finnerty made amends with second-half goals and Shane Walsh’s nine points - including a last-gasp winner- meant a third-placed finish for the Westerners.

Whilst Dublin will be home in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals, Galway will be on the road, having finished in third place. Dessie Farrell’s Dublin were 0-22 to 0-20 winners over Derry, who are now out and finished 2025 without a win in league or championship.

Armagh join Meath as group winners, after the Royals win over Kerry this afternoon in  Group 2, while Galway and the Kingdom finished off their groups in second, with Dublin and Cork third. Tomorrow, in Group 4, Donegal, Tyrone, Mayo and Cavan have it all to play for, with all the sides still capable of coming in any position. In  Group 3, Down play Monaghan to win the group, with Louth and Clare battling for third place.