All-Ireland MFC quarter-finals/ Down 0-15; Galway 1-11: In a game that came to life only near the end, Down snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when they overcame a gallant Galway side at Kingspan Breffni Park, Cavan, on Saturday.
Down began confidently and led by five points to nil after 11 minutes. They still looked comfortable with five minutes of the half remaining, leading by 0-7 to 0-2, Martin Clarke having scored three of their tally.
Galway were gradually settling, however, and when corner forward Cathal Coleman posted three points in three minutes, they were right back in contention - it was 0-7 to 0-5 at the interval.
Some 13 minutes into the second half, Down still held that two-point advantage, but then a goal from midfielder Fiachna Breathnach put Galway in front for the first time.
Seán Armstrong and Shane Hogan, with a point each, stretched the lead to three points, 1-10 to 0-10, entering the final quarter.
Down responded with great determination and though Brian Faherty pointed for Galway, scores from Clarke and Martin Farrell reduced the margin to two points.
With four minutes of normal time remaining, Down managed a point from Martin Farrell to reduce the deficit to a point.
Down increased the pressure as the minutes ticked away and Clarke proved the hero, scoring the levelling point and then the winning one four minutes into injury time.
DOWN: M McAllister; L Howard, W Russell, P MacGeehan; S Parr, S Sands, R Lynch; J Colgan (0-1), J McCarthy; M Clarke (0-8), S Doran, M Farrell (0-3); C Brannigan (0-2), J Boyle (0-1), R Kelly. Subs: E McConville for P MacGeehan, J McCarthy for S Sands.
GALWAY: B Ruane; S Kelly, D Kelly, R Finnegan; T Crowe, G Bradshaw, R McTiernan; F Breathnach (1-1), B Faherty (0-1); A Glynn, K Murphy, F Burke; C Coleman (0-4), S Armstrong (0-3), S Hogan (0-2). Subs: M Rooney for D Kelly, C Bane for S Kelly, S Mannion for K Murphy.
Referee: Pat O'Reilly (Longford).
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