Late Culhane goal helps Galway sink Down in Newry thriller for All-Ireland SFC quarter-final berth

Tomo Culhane’s 68th minute goal helped Galway to see off Down’s brave effort by 2-26 to 3-21 in Newry this afternoon and advance the Connacht champions to the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals.

A thrilling clash at Pairc Esler saw five goals scored between the teams, including two in the closing two minutes of play as Padraic Joyce’s men held on to return to the last eight in the Sam Maguire Cup race.

Galway had built up a 0-6 to 0-2 lead before John McGeough struck the game’s first goal in the 13th minute, but it’d be cancelled out by Shane Walsh’s goal and couple of two-pointers from the Tribe’s talisman and Rob Finnerty would send their side in with a commanding 1-16 to 1-6 half-time advantage.

FT HIGHLIGHTS 🚨@Galway_GAA 2-26@officialdowngaa 3-21#DOWVGAL pic.twitter.com/eYvXKZaBJy

— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 22, 2025

Scores from beyond the arc by Dan Guinness and Micheal Rooney, along with a Pat Havern free, halved the deficit for Conor Laverty’s side within four minutes of the restart.

The visitors looked to have weathered the storm when they pushed their lead back out to eight, but Down weren’t going away as another Guinness two-pointer and a couple of Caolan Mooney scores off the bench suddenly had the margin down to three.

Galway pushed it back out to six ahead of conceding a terrific Odhran Murdock goal, which would be erased by Culhane's brilliant strike to the top corner with two minutes remaining.

A Ryan Magill goal towards the finish proved just consolation for the Mourne men as Joyce’s charges put themselves into tomorrow’s draw for the last eight.

Full-time in Newry #riseofthetribes #gaillimhabú pic.twitter.com/JsP5XjkPRt

— Galway GAA Official (@Galway_GAA) June 22, 2025