Paul Conroy shines as Galway eventually wear down Monaghan

Veteran Paul Conroy led the way as Galway came good against the wind in the second half to advance to the All-Ireland quarter-finals with a hard-earned win over Monaghan at Pearse Stadium.

Monaghan only trailed by a point at the break having played against the wind in the opening half but Galway upped their game after the restart and did enough to fashion their first win over the Farney County since their first meeting way back in 1938.

Monaghan won the toss and opted to play against the wind and rain in the opening half and after packing out their defence they were in a strong position for victory when they went in trailing by just 0-6 to 0-5 at the interval.

It took Galway almost 13 minutes to get their first score, a point from a free on the left wing from Shane Walsh which tied the scores after Jack McCarron got Monaghan off the mark with a fifth minute free.

Paul Conroy edged the Tribesmen in front with a fine effort from distance after 16 minutes but they struggled to break down Monaghan's packed rearguard with the visitors often having all 15 men inside their own half when Galway were in possession.

And with Monaghan, who started Joel Wilson instead of Conor McManus, superb on the counter-attack they picked off the next three scores with Micheal Bannigan levelling with a free before they opened up a 0-4 to 0-2 lead after 26 minutes with efforts from Gary Mohan and Stephen O’Hanlon.

Galway’s plight deepened when Walsh limped off but after Matthew Tierney and Bannigan exchanged points, the Tribesmen finished the half strongly with points from Rob Finnerty, Tierney and Conroy to lead by the minimum at the break.

McCarron levelled the sides for the fourth time after 40 minutes after a sustained period of possession by Galway