After 63 games, stretching back to early April, the 2024 All-Ireland football final has produced a novel pairing with Armagh and Galway set to do battle in Croke Park on Sunday.
It will be the first-ever All-Ireland senior final between the two counties, so baggage shouldn’t play a factor. It’s Armagh’s first appearance in the final since 2003, when they lost to Tyrone by three points, having won the title for the first time a year earlier, beating Kerry by a point in the final.
Galway, who are seeking their tenth All-Ireland title, were last in the final two years ago when they lost to Kerry by four points, and are bidding to win the crown for the first time since 2001.
When and where is the game?
Sunday, July 28 at Croke Park, Dublin.
What time is throw-in?
Throw-in is fixed for 3pm sharp at GAA HQ.
Where can I watch the match?
Live coverage kicks off on Sunday from 2.15pm on RTÉ 2 and RTÉ Player, with the game also available on BBC 2 NI and GAAGO for expats looking to tune in from abroad.
What are the odds?
Galway are the bookies’ favourites with a price of 10/11, Armagh are 11/8 and a draw is 6/1.
What are the starting line-ups?
ARMAGH: Blaine Hughes; Paddy Burns, Aaron McKay, Barry McCambridge; Connaire Mackin, Tiernan Kelly, Aidan Forker; Niall Grimley, Ben Crealey; Joe McElroy, Rian O’Neill, Oisin Conaty; Rory Grugan, Andrew Murnin, Conor Turbitt.
GALWAY: Connor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Seán Fitzgerald, Jack Glynn; Dylan McHugh, Liam Silke, Séan Mulkerrin; Paul Conroy, Sean Kelly; Matthew Tierney, John Maher, Cillian McDaid; Robert Finnerty, Damien Comer, Shane Walsh.
Have the counties met this year?
They have met only six times previously in the championship, with Galway winning four to Armagh’s one, while this year’s clash was drawn. Armagh and Galway drew 1-12 to 0-15 in their All-Ireland round robin clash in Markievicz Park back in June. Armagh beat Galway by a point in the corresponding clash last year while Galway beat Armagh on penalties in the 2022 All-Ireland quarter-final. It all points to an intriguing contest and a fitting end to the season on Sunday.
2024: Armagh 1-12 Galway 0-15 (All-Ireland round robin)
2023: Armagh 0-16 Galway 1-12 (All-Ireland round robin)
2022: Galway 2-21 Armagh 3-18 aet -Galway won 4-1 on penalties (All-Ireland quarter-final)
2015: Galway 1-12 Armagh 0-12 (All-Ireland qualifier)
2013: Galway 1-11 Armagh 0-9 (All-Ireland qualifier)
2001: Galway 0-13 Armagh 0-12 (All-Ireland qualifier)
Paths to the final
ARMAGH
Armagh 3-11 Fermanagh 0-9 (Ulster quarter-final)
Armagh 0-13 Down 2-6 (Ulster semi-final)
Donegal 0-20 Armagh 0-20 aet: Donegal won on penalties (Ulster final)
Armagh 0-16 Westmeath 0-11 (All-Ireland round robin)
Armagh 3-17 Derry 0-15 (All-Ireland round robin)
Armagh 1-12 Galway 0-15 (All-Ireland round robin)
Armagh 2-12 Roscommon 0-12 (All-Ireland quarter-final)
Armagh 1-18 Kerry 1-16 aet (All-Ireland semi-final)
Won 6, Draw 1, Lost 1
GALWAY
Galway 5-21 London 0-9 (Connacht quarter-final)
Galway 1-13 Sligo 0-14 (Connacht semi-final)
Galway 0-16 Mayo 0-15 (Connacht final)
Galway 2-14 Derry 0-15 (All-Ireland round robin)
Galway 1-12 Westmeath 0-11 (All-Ireland round robin)
Galway 0-15 Armagh 1-12 (All-Ireland round robin)
Galway 0-14 Monaghan 0-11 (All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final)
Galway 0-17 Dublin 0-16 (All-Ireland quarter-final)
Galway 1-14 Donegal 0-15 (All-Ireland semi-final)
Won 8, Drew 1
Stats
- Galway conceded only one goal in nine championship games so far this year. It came against Armagh in the All-Ireland round-robin and was scored by Tiernan Kelly. They have scored ten goals, five of which came against London in the Connacht quarter-final.
- Armagh conceded only three goals in their eight championships games, two against Down in the Ulster semi-final and one against Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final. They have scored ten goals in total.
- Common opponents… both Armagh and Galway beat Derry and Westmeath in the All-Ireland round robin. Armagh beat Derry by eleven points and Westmeath by five points. Galway beat Derry by five points and Westmeath by four points.
- Galway manager Padraic Joyce played in four All-Ireland senior finals, winning two (v Kildare 1998, v Meath 2001), losing one (v Kerry 2000) and drawing one (v Kerry 2000).
- Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney captained the Orchard county to their first All-Ireland win in 2002 and was also captain when they lost the 2003 final to Tyrone.
- Armagh will be appearing in the final for only the fifth time, having won one and lost three of the previous four. They lost to Kerry in 1953, Dublin in 1977, and Tyrone in 2003. Their only success came in 2002.
- Galway have featured in 25 All-Ireland finals, winning nine, losing fourteen and drawing two.
- This is the first final without Kerry, Dublin or Mayo since Cork beat Down in 2010.
Top Scorers
Armagh
Conor Turbitt… 3-22 (0-9 frees, 0-1 mark)
Rian O’Neill… 1-12 (0-1 free, 0-1 mark)
Rory Grugan… 0-14 (0-9 frees)
Stefan Campbell… 1-10
Oisin Conaty… 0-10
Barry McCambridge… 2-4 (0-1 mark)
Galway
Rob Finnerty… 1-33 (0-15 frees, 0-1 mark)
Shane Walsh… 1-26 (0-14 frees)
Paul Conroy… 2-13
Céin Darcy… 2-6
Johnny Heaney… 0-8
Matthew Tierney… 0- 7 (0-2 frees, 0-1 mark)