GAA: Galway out to replicate quarter-final heroics, Down meet Laois in Tailteann Cup decider

With reigning champions Dublin out of the picture, the Sam Maguire Cup will be venturing to a new home after the All-Ireland Senior Football Final on July 28th.

While three of the quarter-finals played out pretty much as expected, a massive upset by Galway brought an end to Dublin’s season by the narrowest of margins, ending 0-17 to 0-16.

Páraic Joyce’s Tribesmen now face the challenge of Donegal, back under the stewardship of All-Ireland winning manager Jim McGuinness, in the second of the weekend’s semi-finals.

The Ulster champions saw themselves this far after topping Group 3 before taking a 1-23 to 0-18 win over Louth in the quarter-final.

But first up will be Armagh and Kerry, who bested Roscommon and Derry respectively on the last day out.

Armagh were scarcely troubled by the Rossies in their 2-12 to 0-12 quarter-final meeting, while the Kerry men kept their cool to see off Derry 0-15 to 0-10 and claim the last semi-final spot.

The weekend will also see the final of the Tailteann Cup between Down and Laois, while Kildare and Laois will battle to avoid relegation in the Senior Ladies Football Championship.