SHAUN PATTON 6
Looked uncomfortable under two high balls into the edge of the square and should have got something on Paul Conroy’s goal. Will have some regrets.
EOGHAN BÁN GALLAGHER 7
Had the upper hand on Shane Walsh while on the pitch and made one of his attacking runs to win a second-half free before being forced off injured.
BRENDAN McCOLE 8
Neutralised Damien Comer and went toe-to-toe with him physically, getting plenty of success. Never allowed the Galway attacker room to manoeuvre.
PEADAR MOGAN 6
Never got to leave his usual attacking imprint on the game and played far more defensively than has been typical for him in a superb season overall.
RYAN McHUGH 6
Didn’t get to surge forward or attack Galway and that really hurt Donegal’s charge, as they needed to make something happen after the break.
CAOLAN McGONAGLE 6
Got up into attack for a first-half point but marginally came off second best in his duel with John Maher. Donegal’s half-back line just didn’t sizzle.
CIARÁN MOORE 6
Was off target in front of the posts in the second half and didn’t have as much influence on proceedings as he would have liked against Matthew Tierney.
CIARÁN THOMPSON 7
Was caught napping a small bit for Paul Conroy’s goal and was unlucky to touch the ball on the ground for a late free. Scored two brilliant points.
JASON McGEE 6
Returned from injury and emptied the tank in the middle of the park, but Conroy got better of their duel.
MICHAEL LANGAN 9
Man-of-the-match in defeat. Kicked four sensational points from a variety of angles and distances and brought the fight to Galway throughout.
SHANE O’DONNELL 7
Fired over two points early in either half and was one of the few Donegal forwards to make a real impact.
AARON DOHERTY 6
Foraged hard and regularly tracked back, but we didn’t get to see the scoring nous that he is capable of.
PADDY McBREARTY 7
Showed all his guile in front of the posts with two exquisite points and while fading when he substituted after 60 minutes, his experience was missed.
OISÍN GALLEN 7
Threatened to deliver one of the great shooting displays with 0-3 in the first 37 minutes but was off-target with two key chances in the second half and put on the back foot by Galway’s Liam Silke.
CAOLAN McCOLGAN 5
A late inclusion for Jeaic Mac Ceallbhuí, but the attacker never got motoring and was replaced by Dáire Ó Baoill before half-time.
BENCH 5
Jim McGuinness made five substitutions, but none of the quintet were able to make any meaningful impact when it mattered most.
GALWAY
CONNOR GLEESON 7
He was never called into action to make a save, but the Dunmore MacHales ’keeper was solid under the high ball and hit his kick-out targets.
JOHNNY McGRATH 7
Got the better of his duel with Aaron Doherty and the Caherlistrane defender delivered yet another teak-tough defensive display to enhance his reputation.
LIAM SILKE 7
Had his fill from Oisín Gallen in the first 40 minutes but thundered into it thereafter and surged forward to kick two scores when they were needed most.
JACK GLYNN 7
McBrearty stung him for 0-2 from play, but Glynn kept bombing forward until the final whistle and regularly injected pace into the Tribe attack.
DYLAN McHUGH 8
Ventured forward for early points in both halves and was a huge attacking presence, as well as being defensively stout. Galway’s best player overall.
SEÁN FITZGERALD 6
Was called ashore in the 66th minute but had been solid if not spectacular to that point with the Galway defence not coughing up any real goal chance.
SEÁN MULKERRIN 7
Carried the ball forward plenty at pace into attack without taking on a shot and the Aran Islands defender was solid as a rock at the other end.
PAUL CONROY 7
It may not have been what he meant, but his first-half goal was crucial and his contribution of 1-1, as well as his kick-out fielding, made a huge difference.
CÉIN DARCY 6
Started instead of captain Seán Kelly but struggled to cope with Michael Langan around the middle of the park.
MATTHEW TIERNEY 7
He may not have got a touch on it, but his movement for Conroy’s goal was all-important in putting Patton off and he carried the ball forward with intent.
JOHN MAHER 7
Kicked a crucial second-half point to end a 14-minute barren spell for his side and used his brawn to good effect in a bruising encounter.
CILLIAN McDAID 7
Didn’t have his usual influence on proceedings but kicked a crucial second-half point from distance and had some important assists.
ROB FINNERTY 7
Looked lively in the opening quarter with two points from play and was two from two from placed balls, but his influence waned in the second period.
DAMIEN COMER 6
Threatening in the air but came out second-best in his duel with Brendan McCole and could be a wounded animal heading into the final.
SHANE WALSH 6
Was kept on a tight rein by Eoghan Bán Gallagher before he hobbled off and the Kilmacud Crokes ace never really got going. Ominous for the final, though.
BENCH 6
Didn’t have the same impact from their subs compared to the Dublin game.
