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05th Aug 2018

James Skehill saves with the back of his helmet and then Joe Canning does what he always does

Conan Doherty

Does Joe Canning not realise how tough sideline cuts are?

Galway will play Limerick in the All-Ireland final after another breathtaking second half with Clare. Clare and Galway – the entire island will be praying that they could play each other every single week.

Galway 1-17 Clare 2-13

For a minute though, it looked for all the world like the champions might’ve been heading out in Thurles until James Skehill’s head and the Galway post denied the Banner a match-winning goal with just seconds on the clock.

After Peter Duggan slotted one of the goals of the championship, Clare got in again with the clock ticking towards the 70 but the back of Skehill’s helmet turned the way the initial effort before the slitter came back off the post and Galway somehow scrambled away.

19 wides for Clare throughout the day in Tipperary. 19 wides.

After 160 minutes of the All-Ireland semi-final, they led by barely even five of them and yet, in the end, they were the width of the post away from contesting for Liam MacCarthy in the decider.

Galway were ruthless though. When Clare scored both of their goals, the Tribesmen went straight down the other end and reasserted their authority.

And when Clare missed their chance of a third, Joe Canning was on hand to slot over another crucial sideline cut as if he was stroking around after training – about 20 yards out.

Canning makes himself comfortable with the uncomfortable though and with further heroics, he sent Galway into the final and put them 70 minutes from claiming back-to-back All-Ireland wins.

LISTEN: The GAA Hour – Klopp in Croker, flop in Kildare and the ‘worst fans’ award?

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Topics:

Galway GAA