Armagh clinched the All-Ireland SFC title after winning a tight and tense decider against Galway by a point. Here's how we rated the players at Croke Park.
ARMAGH
Blaine Hughes - 7.5
Went short with most of his kick-outs until late on when Galway put a heavy press on. Got all of his short kick-outs away apart from one early on which ended up in a Galway score from a free. Of his five long kick-outs, three found Galway hands, including one poor restart that was claimed by Paul Conroy late on. Had a brilliant year overall as he stepped up to take Ethan Rafferty's spot.
Barry McCambridge - 8
Came into the contest with 2-04 from defence. Managed to add a first-half point but spent the majority of his afternoon in defence mode on Shane Walsh. The Galway man was off colour for sure but McCambridge was also excellent, holding Walsh to a point from play.
Aidan Forker - 8
The Armagh captain went head to head with Damien Comer. That was a job in itself but he got forward for two first-half score attempts, kicking a wide and a point. Comer was eventually taken off and Forker became the first man since Kieran McGeeney to captain a winning Orchard team to Sam.
Paddy Burns - 7
Began the game on Rob Finnerty until the Galway attacker was taken off injured. Set up a Tiernan Kelly point in the third quarter.
Connaire Mackin - 8
The one change to the Armagh team from the semi-final. Mackin's orders were to man-mark Matthew Tierney and he did just that, getting hands on and physical whenever possible. Put Cein Darcy out of play with an inspirational hit in the 43rd minute.
Aaron McKay - 8
An unlikely gamebreaker. The Dromintee man was detailed to protect the full-back line again in a sweeper role. Bombed forward at times in the first-half and was the most advanced player for an Armagh point. That was a precursor to his memorable 47th-minute goal.
Tiernan Kelly - 7
Had bad memories from facing Galway in 2022 on the same pitch. Was taken off after 46 minutes this time but still scored a point and contributed to a famous win.
Niall Grimley - 7
Kicked a sumptuous point at a crucial stage with eight minutes to go following a great catch. One half of a superb Armagh midfield pairing.
Ben Crealey - 8
What a battle between the two midfielders; Crealey and Paul Conroy. Both sniped two first-half points. Crealey's second was his best as he provided support on the right and kicked accurately. Made a brilliant stoppage-time interception as Galway chased the equaliser.
Joe McElroy - 7
Should have done better with a 33rd-minute point attempt from a mark. But lasted the duration and came good at the death with a block to deny Paul Conroy a possible equaliser for Galway.
Rian O'Neill - 7
- 7
Tracked by Liam Silke. Won a 19th-minute free that Conor Turbitt wasted and set up a 33rd-minute advanced mark that Joe McElroy booted wide. His 41st-minute point was a pearler.
Oisin Conaty - 8
Caused Galway huge problems, particularly in the first half. Got on tonnes of ball and remained a constant outlet. Scored Armagh's first two points and added a third in the second-half, finishing the campaign with 0-13. The Galway post mortem will focus on how he had so much space.
Rory Grugan - 6
The Ballymacnab man struggled to escape Jack Glynn for the most part. Had to be lifted off in the third quarter with a leg injury.
Andrew Murnin - 6
Not a particularly influential figure in the Armagh attack, albeit he sacrificed his own game to provide support in the middle third. Surprisingly lasted the entire game.
Conor Turbitt - 6
Got off to a slow start and then kicked a bad 20th minute wide from a free. Nothing much fell his way after that and he was taken off. Still, a bold move to withdraw a man who'd fired 3-22 in the Championship.
SUBSTITUTES
Stefan Campbell (for Turbitt, 46) - 7
Came on at half-time in Armagh's previous three games. Arrived later this time but had an immediate impact, setting up the goal. Struck a wide too.
Ross McQuillan (for Kelly 46) - 6
Brought vital energy in the war zone.
Oisin O'Neill (for Grugan 51) - 7
Etched his name in history with one of the scores that clinched the landmark win.
Jarly Og Burns (for Mackin 59) - 7
Marked Matthew Tierney when he came on. Burst forward to set up Oisin O'Neill for a pivotal point.
Jason Duffy (for Forker 76)
Not on long enough to rate.
GALWAY
Connor Gleeson - 7
Even allowing for Aaron McKay's excellent attacking play, Gleeson will be frustrated that he didn't get to the ball first for the crucial goal. Got all of his short kick-outs away but only two of his four long ones. Didn't have to produce a save of note outside of the goal.
Johnny McGrath - 7
One of Galway's All-Ireland U-20 winners in 2020. Handed the tough task of trailing Conor Turbitt but did it well. Went on to Stefan Campbell when he came on. Lost Campbell for the goal but won an important free off him later too.
Sean Fitzgerald - 7
Tied up Andrew Murnin for the most part and, in that sense, did the job he was asked to do. Both players seemed to cancel each other out.
Jack Glynn - 6
Was given orders to mark Rory Grugan. Was doing that nicely until the Armagh attacker was taken off. Glynn was hauled ashore himself at a relatively early stage.
Dylan McHugh - 6
The Footballer of the Year favourite beforehand. Set up a John Maher point in the first-half. Made an important turnover in the 58th minute. Will have nightmares about his stoppage time effort that hit the post. Oisin Conaty played him well too.
Liam Silke - 7.5
Marked Rian O'Neill and came out largely on top. Evaded three Armagh defenders to kick a terrific sixth-minute point. Set up three second-half points too.
Sean Mulkerrin - 7
Put in a big shift as Armagh funnelled much of their attacking plays through his defensive zone. Won a big turnover along with John Maher in the 58th minute and never gave up the fight.
Paul Conroy - 8
Displayed his full skill set with three long-range points. Never gave up despite the difficult situation and was brave enough to take on a pot shot for an equaliser right at the death. Finished the Championship with 2-16 and, perhaps, the moniker of the best player still waiting on an All-Ireland win. At 35, it could stay that way.
John Maher - 8
Blocked brilliantly to deny Niall Grimley a 16th-minute score and got better as the game developed, setting up a number of scores and scoring one himself. Had a great season overall and got through so much good work again on the biggest stage.
Matthew Tierney - 6
The stand-in skipper in Sean Kelly's absence. Went in for the two throw-ups but played in the half-forward line with Connaire Mackin by his side. Involved in a couple of Galway scores but they needed more from such a quality performer. Eventually taken off.
Cein Darcy - 8
Replaced Sean Kelly in the Galway lineup and was one of Galway's best performers. Was busy throughout, hitting a 20th minute point and beginning a move soon after that ended with a poor Shane Walsh side. Added two more second-half points and lost no face in defeat.
Cillian McDaid - 7
Tore up Croke Park in the quarter-final win over Dublin but not as impactful this time. The 2022 All-Star struck two wides but to his credit stood up late on, hitting a point and winning a free that could have provided an equaliser.
Rob Finnerty - 6
With his left knee already strapped, Finnerty appeared to pick up a fresh injury inside the first 15 minutes. He won a free and pointed it but struggled thereafter and was taken off. A big blow to Galway considering he'd kicked 1-33 beforehand.
Damien Comer - 6
Held scoreless for the third game running. Thought he'd scored in the first-half but it drifted just wide. Has returned just 0-1 in his last six games. Aidan Forker won the personal battle hands down, even outscoring Comer by 0-1 to 0-0. Truth be told, Galway needed a player like Comer to be firing.
Shane Walsh - 6
A pale shadow of the 2022 final version. Never really looked settled bar a few minutes in the third quarter when he came alive with two points, one from a free. Struck three wides, dropped two more point attempts short. Barry McCambridge did well on him but Walsh looked short on confidence generally. Lucky to see out the game.
SUBSTITUTES
Johnny Heaney (for Finnerty, 11) - 6
Wouldn't have anticipated the early introduction but provided typical energy. Set up a point before coming off in the closing minutes.
Sean Kelly (for Glynn 45) - 6
The Galway captain came on and set up Cein Darcy for a point. A frustrating year overall given his injury issues.
Tomo Culhane (for Comer 66) - 5
Kicked the winning point against Dublin but couldn't replicate those heroics.
Daniel O'Flaherty (for Tierney 66) - 5
Came on in the hectic closing stages to inject pace. Never got the opportunity to hurt Armagh's packed defence.
Kieran Molloy (for Heaney 75)
Not on long enough to rate.
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