Donegal are set to take on Galway this weekend as the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship reaches the semi-final stage, this will be Galway's first outing since their monumental quarter-final victory against reigning champions Dublin. Here's everything you need to know ahead of Donegal v Galway.
Ulster champions Donegal have six wins and one loss so far in this year's championship while Galway are unbeaten in eight games with seven wins and a draw under their belts.
The last time these sides met in the championship was in 2017 and the Tribesmen came away with a landslide 15 point victory.
It's 10 years since Donegal were in an All Ireland semi final, they were the final days of Jim McGuinness' first spell as Donegal boss, and a decade on, he is trying to go one better in the first year of his second coming.
After a disastrous 2023, he has already delivered promotion back to Division One, an Ulster title and a return to the business end of the All-Ireland series.
Galway have gone from strength to strength this year, maintaining a steady pace through their league campaign and comprehensively winning the Connacht title.
But their defeat of Dublin was a real statement of intent from Padraic Joyce's men, second half performances from the likes of Shane Walsh, Cillian McDaid and John Maher among others were a sure sign the tribesmen were on a mission to claim their first Championship victory over the dubs since 1934.
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To get to this stage, both counties claimed their respective provincial titles and Donegal came out on top in their group with Clare, Cork and Tyrone and had too much for Louth in the quarter-final while Galway finished second to Armagh in their group phase before defeating Monaghan and the famous win against reigning All-Ireland champions Dublin on their way to the semi-finals.
McGuinness and Padraic Joyce are good friends having played together on IT Tralee's Sigerson Cup-winning team in 1998. Friendship will be put to the side, though, as both men aim to lead their counties into the final.
When is Donegal v Galway?
Donegal are set to take on Galway this Sunday July 14th at Croke Park with throw-in scheduled for 4.00pm.
How to watch Donegal v Galway?
The match will be broadcast live on The Sunday Game on RTÉ Two. Coverage gets underway at 3.15pm.
Team News
Manager Jim McGuinness has made one change to the Donegal line up for Sunday’s All Ireland Semi Final meeting with Galway.
Jeaic McKelvey has been handed a first championship start this campaign and comes into the half forward line in place of Conor O’Donnell.
We are delighted to announce our panel for the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Semi-final 💛 💚
We, as do all of you, wish our players, Jim & his backroom team every success.
Berigí bua agus beannacht 🙏🙏
##uphereitsdifferent #ExperienceTheUnforgettable pic.twitter.com/XdDlW7xATb— CLG Dhún na nGall (@officialdonegal) July 12, 2024
Galway senior football manager Padraig Joyce has kept faith with the same starting fifteen that beat Dublin for Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final against Donegal in Croke Park.
There were fitness concerns over Sean Kelly and Shane Walsh who left the field in some discomfort five minutes from the end but both players, along with full-forward Damien Comer, have been named to start in what looks, on paper, as a full-strength Galway team.
🚨Team News 🚨
Galway v Donegal
🗓️Sunday July
📍Croke Park
🕓4.00PMhttps://t.co/wlgQGuFwoG
📻Galway Bay FM, RnaG Spórt
📱Live score updates via @WhatstheScor App
📺RTE
Best of Luck to Pádraic Joyce, Team Management and our Senior Football squad!#riseofthetribes #gaillimhabú pic.twitter.com/NBFfjqXJQV— Galway GAA Official (@Galway_GAA) July 12, 2024
Donegal and Galway are both expected to name their teams on Friday.
