Mayo vs Galway Preview
Mayo and Galway meet in the Connacht Senior Football Championship Final for the second year running on May 4th at McHale Park. Galway are gunning for a record extending 51st SFC while Mayo are out for revenge after their heartbreaking loss in 2024.
These sides have been at the top of Connacht SFC this century, with 21 wins between them. This will be the 10th final between the sides in that time, and this is a fixture steeped in history. Can Mayo redeem themselves after the heartbreak of last term, or will Galway reaffirm their dominance in Connacht?
Mayo vs Galway Predictions
Score prediction: Mayo 1-15 – 1-18 Galway
One of our best GAA predictions this week is for Galway to take home the Connacht Senior Football Championship on Saturday. These two counties have shared countless classic encounters over the decades, and Sunday’s final promises to be another chapter in their rich history. For the third straight year, they meet with silverware on the line, and it’s Galway who look poised to edge Mayo once more.
There is a sense of momentum and stability around this Galway side that has been building steadily under manager Pádraic Joyce. After capturing back-to-back Connacht titles in 2022 and 2023, Galway made it three-in-a-row in 2024 with a thrilling 0-16 to 0-15 victory over Mayo at Pearse Stadium. That win wasn’t just about a single point on the scoreboard. It was about Galway’s composure in the critical moments, their ability to grind out results, and their ever-developing game management. In contrast, Mayo once again came away with regrets. They were undone by late errors that have got the better of them in several finals against the Tribesmen.
The 2025 campaign has seen Galway continue in the same vein. They come into this final after convincing wins over New York and Roscommon. Neither result ever truly felt in doubt. Galway’s experience, calmness under pressure, and scoring threat from multiple positions carried them through. Robert Finnerty has matured into a consistently reliable forward, while Damien Comer remains a battering ram that Mayo’s defence has struggled to contain in recent seasons. Shane Walsh, even when not at his best, can change a game with a single moment of brilliance. This Galway team is full of Championship pedigree.
Midfield may prove the most critical battleground in this final. Galway has the physicality and ball-winning ability to dominate that area. Paul Conroy, even at 35, remains a vital cog in their engine room. His partnership with Cillian McDaid gives Galway a mix of composure and athleticism. Mayo’s midfield, while combative, hasn’t shown the same control in big games. If they can’t get the ball to their forwards quickly, they risk becoming too reliant on turnovers.
Galway’s defence, led by Seán Kelly and Johnny Heaney, has been resolute. They have become incredibly difficult to break down. Mayo will find it hard to get behind them, especially if Cillian O’Connor remains short of match fitness. Even with Ryan O’Donoghue and Aidan O’Shea in the Mayo lineup, Galway’s back six has the structure and discipline to limit their influence.
None of this means Mayo can be written off. They are in the final on pedigree. Mayo will bring intensity, as they always do. Their supporters will travel in force and create a fervent atmosphere. They beat Galway in back-to-back Connacht SFC finals in 2020 and 2021. The tide may have turned since then, but there is still plenty of championship pedigree in this Mayo team as well.
Players To Watch
- Matthew Tierney (Galway, Right Half Forward): Matthew Tierney has become one of Galway’s most effective and consistent forwards in recent seasons. His quality lies in a combination of technical skill, tactical intelligence, and composure under pressure. He thrives in tight, high-stakes games, and his presence has been all-important throughout this Connacht SFC run.
- Matthew Ruane (Mayo, Midfield): Matthew Ruane’s resurgence as a standout player for Mayo has been a joy to watch this season. He will be vital in the midfield battle in this final. Ruane combines physical dominance with smart decision-making and plays a central role in linking Mayo’s defence and attack.
Mayo vs Galway Betting Tips
- Full-Time Result – Galway to win: Galway have won three straight Connacht SFC titles. They are the leading winners of the competition with 50 to their name. We are backing the Tribesmen to make it four in a row on Sunday. A bet on Galway is worth 1/2. Mayo are no pushovers, however. A bet on Mayo is worth 9/4 for anyone who thinks they can overcome the odds.
- Handicap – Galway -2: Galway have stormed through the opposition in the competition so far. They won by 17 points in the quarter-final and nine in the semi-final. They also defeated Mayo by 10 points in the National Football League in February. This will be a tighter game, but Galway’s formidable attack can stay out of arm’s reach of the Westerners. Anyone betting on the GAA should back Galway to cover the handicap.
- RTE Man of the Match – Matthew Tierney: Tierney has starred in Galway’s frontline throughout their SFC run and is one of the best Gaelic footballers right now. He is the second top scorer in the Championship with two goals, two points and a two-pointer. The forward will be the key to squeezing past Mayo here, and a bet on the 24-year-old to win the man of the match award is worth 7/1 at our online betting site.
Mayo vs Galway Head-To-Head and Key Stats
These sides last met on February 2nd in the Allianz National Football League Division One. Galway eased past the Westerners at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park. Mayo led 0-9 to 0-8 at the break after fighting back from two separate four-point deficits, thanks to Paul Towey’s impressive first-half showing. However, Galway took full control after the restart.
Shane Walsh and Cillian Ó’Curraoin dominated the second half, each landing multiple long-range two-pointers. Galway outscored Mayo 0-18 to 0-7 after the interval, pulling away decisively in the last quarter. Ó’Curraoin finished with three two-pointers, while Shane Walsh added two. Galway’s sharp shooting and game management saw them coast to victory. Mayo’s inability to adapt to the defensive requirements proved costly, while Galway looked tactically prepared and ruthlessly efficient.
Mayo last played on April 19th, defeating Leitrim in the SFC semi-finals. The game was closer than the final score suggests, with Leitrim staying competitive for much of the contest, but Ryan O’Donoghue’s clinical finishing proved decisive. Leitrim shocked Mayo early on with two two-point frees from Barry McNulty to take the lead. Mayo gradually reeled them in, with O’Donoghue and Aidan O’Shea keeping the scoreboard ticking. Mayo led 0-8 to 0-7 at half-time after a tightly contested opening period.
The sides traded scores early in the second half, but Mayo soon pulled clear with five unanswered points. They were helped by efforts from O’Donoghue, Stephen Coen, and Paul Towey. Leitrim’s challenge faded in the final quarter as Mayo controlled possession. O’Donoghue finished with seven points in a composed display, while Jack Carney and Jordan Flynn added valuable scores in a dominant second-half showing.
Galway eased into the Connacht final with a dominant nine-point win over Roscommon on April 20th. Pádraic Joyce’s men were superior throughout, with Rob Finnerty outstanding in attack, scoring eight points. Roscommon matched Galway for the opening 17 minutes but were undone by a 1-5 burst, including a Matthew Tierney goal that swung momentum firmly in Galway’s favour. Paul Conroy’s two long-range two-pointers and John Maher’s midfield presence gave the home side full control, as they led 1-12 to 0-7 at half-time.
Though Roscommon briefly threatened a third-quarter comeback with two-pointers from the Murtagh brothers and Donie Smith, Galway remained untroubled. Damien Comer’s return added to a positive afternoon as the Tribesmen pulled away with clinical scores from Finnerty and Conroy.
