Galway booked their place in this year's All-Ireland MFC final with a deserved 2-12 to 1-11 semi-final victory over Donegal in Croke Park today.

Goals in either half from the impressive duo of Robert Finnerty and Desmond Conneely laid the foundations for the Tribesmen's four point success.

Finnerty's sixth minute goal separated the sides at the half-time whistle - 1-6 to 0-6 - and the right corner-forward pick pocked Donegal to the tune of 1-4 during the opening 30 minutes.

The Tribesmen continued where they left off in the first-half with Fionnan McGarvey extending their lead shortly after the resumption.

Donegal lost corner-back Seaghan Ferry to a black card in the 42nd minute as they trailed by 0-7 to 1-9 but, to their credit, Shaun Paul Barrett's side refused to throw in the towel.

They here was a just a goal between the sides - 1-9 to 0-9 - at the three quarter hour mark after Peadar Mogan converted a brace of frees.

With 10 minutes left on the clock, Finnerty and Finian O'Laoi combined to create the opening for full-forward Conneely to net Galway's second goal and give Stephen Joyce's charges a six point cushion.

But Donegal didn't go down without a fight and Enda McCormick conjured up a goal for the Ulster champions in the 57th minute but substitute Ross Murphy tagged on the insurance score for the team in maroon and white shortly after.

A combination of last ditch defending and the woodwork denied Donegal a second goal in the third minute of stoppage time and Galway now await the winners of next weekend's semi-final between Kerry and Kildare in the Tom Markham Cup decider on Sunday, September 18th.

Galway - C Haslam; C D'Arcy, S Mulkerrin, C McFadden; A Quirke, E McDonagh, F Garvey (0-1); S Raftery, J Maher; F O Laoi, E Murphy (0-2, 1f), R Forde; R Finnerty (1-5, 0-4f), D Conneely (1-2, 0-2f), B Goldrick (0-1). Sub: R Murphy (0-1) for J Maher.

Donegal - G Mulreaney; S Ferry, A McCrea, M Curran; A Deeney, J D Boyle (0-1), A McLaughlin; J McGee (0-2, 1'45), K Gallagher; N Boyle, N O'Donnell (0-3, 1f), E McCormick (1-0); P Mogan (0-2f), E McGettigan (0-2), O McFadden Ferry. Subs: O Shiels for A McLaughlin, S McGrath for N Boyle, B O'Donnell for S Ferry (BC), G Molloy (0-1) for J D Boyle, D Lyons for A McCrea.

Referee - J Hickey.

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