Ulster champions Derry take on Connacht champions Galway in the first of this year’s All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-finals.
The Oak Leafers haven’t reached the last four since 2004, when they lost out to Kerry, and they slipped behind neighbours Tyrone, Donegal, Monaghan and Armagh in the pecking order in Ulster in recent times.
All that changed this summer, though, as Rory Gallagher’s Derry defeated three of the aforementioned quartet to clinch their first Ulster title since 1998.
They followed up their provincial success with a resounding 5-13 to 2-8 win over Clare in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-final with Benny Heron, Shane McGuigan, Conor Glass, Gareth McKinless and Paul Cassidy finding the net at Croke Park.
On another weekend, their remarkable goal-scoring exploits would have been the major talking point of the quarter-finals, but every other game was overshadowed by the events in Galway’s dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Armagh the following day.
The well-publicised fallout from that game shouldn’t take away from what was a fine performance in normal time and in extra-time from Pádraic Joyce’s side, who scored all four of their penalties in the shoot-out.
Galway have also defeated both Mayo and Roscommon in the Championship to date and the Division Two champions also claimed a facile win over Derry in Owenbeg in the League.
Saturday’s game will form part of a double-header with the Tailteann Cup final between Cavan and Westmeath throwing in at 3pm.
Here's more info on Saturday’s All-Ireland SFC semi-final and how to watch it…
When and where is the game?
Derry vs Galway is on Saturday, July 9 in Croke Park, Dublin.
What time is throw-in?
Saturday’s game starts at 5.30pm.
Where can I watch it?
Saturday’s semi-final will be live on both RTÉ2 and Sky Sports Arena.
Where can I get tickets for the game?
Tickets for Saturday game are on general sale via ticketmaster.ie
Betting odds
Derry EVS
Draw 7/1
Galway 11/10
Belfast Live Sport best bet
Conor Glass (Derry) first goal-scorer 18/1
Read next:
Armagh's Tiernan Kelly accepts six-month ban for alleged eye gouge
Antrim captain Cathy Carey relishing Carlow showdown in All-Ireland semi-final
- Armagh vs Galway RECAP as Tribesmen clinch semi-final berth following penalty shoot-out victory over Orchardmen
- Derry vs Clare RECAP as Oak Leafers reach the All-Ireland SFC semi-final with devastating win over Banner
For all the latest sport news, visit the Belfast Live Sport homepage here. Sign up to our free sports newsletter here.
