Against the odds, Galway produced a 1-12 to 0-12 victory to halt Mayo's run for six Connacht SFC titles in a row.
A decisive Tom Flynn goal secured the win and ensured they would be meeting Roscommon in the provincial decider. After leading at the break by two points, and subsequently going four points clear after the restart, Mayo are now facing into the qualifiers next month.
A hopeful point from Gary Sice, followed by the Flynn goal 15 minutes from the end, swung the momentum in Galway's direction. Flynn intercepted a Robbie Hennelly kick-out and soloed through without much opposition to fire a shot into the roof of the net.
Further points provided the insurance with Mayo's Cillian O'Connor pulling one back to keep the margin at three points in the end.
Mayo ambushed by Galway..A deserving win from a Galway.They had a plan & stuck to it,Pat Lams team talk must have worked wonders last week!!
— David Brady (@D9BMayo) June 18, 2016
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Galway boss Kevin Walsh conceded that Galway were working within limited means in the months preceding this fixture.
"Back in the league time, facilities were a problem. We couldn't get out act together as much we'd like, hopefully over the years that will change. You need time on the pitches, you need practise together on the pitch and that's what we had the last 12 weeks."
Walsh offered his praise to Mayo who went into this game on the back of a 14-watch unbeaten run. But he also added that people misread Galway's potential ahead of this tie.
"Sometimes the ball bounces wrong. It bounced wrong for us last year. We genuinely felt that those famous pundits and writers - I was delighted they didn't see properly what happened last year."
"We really felt last year that bar a freak goal and one or two debatable frees, we were a lot closer last year than people think."
Pat Lam has done such a great job with the Galway footballers. To think they were almost disbanded a few years back #Galway_GAA
— Oisin Langan (@oisinlangan) June 18, 2016
Congratulations Team Galway. Great victory for @Galway_GAA Football. @TribesmenGAA
— Galway GAA (@Galway_GAA) June 18, 2016
Best of Luck to Team Galway today in the other Provincial Semi-Final in Portlaoise. "The bar is set high now!" @TribesmenGAA @ConnachtGAA
— Galway GAA (@Galway_GAA) June 18, 2016
