All-Ireland Under-21 FC Semi-finals/ Galway 0-17 Cork 1-11: With an eight-point cushion after just 12 minutes at the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday, an all-action Galway had that invincible look about them.
Their flying corner forwards - Micheál Meehan, with six points, and Seán Armstrong, with two - had Cork gasping for air. All changed, however, on the turnover, and in a pulsating finish Galway were grateful to Armstrong, whose two injury-time points saw them home.
Galway board chairman Pat Egan described Armstrong's performance as special.
"Micheál Meehan was top scorer with nine points, five of which were from frees, but Seán had to work for his six and when the pressure was on at the end he delivered the most crucial scores. It was too close for comfort."
Selector Stephen Joyce was equally relieved at the end.
"We hadn't been really tested up to today and didn't know how good our team was. Now we must prepare for Down in the final and that will be another tough one."
Galway could do no wrong in the early minutes. Midfielders Niall Coleman and Barry Cullinane launched their front runners, and Meehan and Armstrong showed their appreciation.
Donal Goulding got Cork off the mark with a point on 14 minutes, and three minutes later they were just three in arrears, thanks to a Goulding goal and a point from John Hayes.
Galway led 0-11 to 1-4 at the break, but thereafter Cork began to shackle Meehan and, during a purple patch for Goulding, Hayes and Paul Kerrigan, levelled at 0-13 to 1-10.
Substitute Brian Faherty swung it Galway's way again and in injury-time there was still just one between them. Enter Armstrong to guarantee safety.
GALWAY: M Killilea; A Burke, F Hanley, M Flannery; D Mullahy, N Coyne, G Sice; N Coleman, B Cullinane; C de Paor, D Dunleavy, F Breathnach (0-1); M Meehan (0-9, 0-5 frees), C Blake, S Armstrong (0-6). Subs: B Faherty (0-1) for de Paor, A Glynn for Dunleavy, J Murphy for Mulcahy, C Duffy for Sice.
CORK: K O'Halloran; F Tobin, D Óg O'Donovan, A Tanner; D Limerick, D Cunningham, E Cadogan; A O'Connor, P Kelly (0-1); F Gould (0-1), J Hayes (0-4), P Kerrigan (0-1); D Goulding (1-4, 0-2 frees), P O'Flynn, M Murphy. Subs: S O'Donoghue for Tobin, G Leahy for Murphy.
Referee: T Quigley (Wexford).
