Football

Will there be a replay date if the All-Ireland final between Armagh and Galway finishes in a draw? Rules for final explained

If the teams are level after 20 minutes of extra-time, the game will go to a replay on August 10

Armagh's Ethan Rafferty fails to save Galway's first penalty during the GAA All-Ireland Senior Championship Quarter Final between Armagh and Galway on 06-26-2022 at Croke Park Dublin. Pic Philip Walsh.
Armagh's Ethan Rafferty fails to save Galway's first penalty during the GAA All-Ireland Senior Championship Quarter Final between Armagh and Galway on 06-26-2022 at Croke Park, Dublin. Pic Philip Walsh.
By Liam Grimley

This Sunday’s All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final will go to a replay if it is all square after extra-time.

Before this stage, this year’s Championship fixtures have been decided by extra-time with penalties an option if it ended all-square after the extra 20 minutes on top of the 70.

The replay will take place on August 10, two weeks after the original final between Armagh and Galway.

Follow live updates of the All-Ireland final here.

Before their introduction in 2010, all drawn knock-out games were settled by a replay, however, due to fixture congestion, the penalty shoot-out was introduced as part of the “winner-on-the-day” contingency.

There has only been one penalty shoot-out in this year’s All-Ireland series, with Derry coming out on top against Mayo in the preliminary quarter-finals, however, the last two Ulster senior football finals have been decided by penalties, with All-Ireland finalists Armagh losing both years to Derry and Donegal respectively.

The Orchard county have been plagued by penalty shoot-outs in recent seasons, aside from their Ulster final woes, they lost All-Ireland quarter-finals in 2022 and 2023 the same way.

Armagh line out before the penalty shoot out during the GAA All-Ireland Senior Championship Quarter Final between Armagh and Galway on 06-26-2022 at Croke Park Dublin. Pic Philip Walsh.
Armagh line out before the penalty shoot out during the GAA All-Ireland Senior Championship Quarter Final between Armagh and Galway on 06-26-2022 at Croke Park Dublin. Pic Philip Walsh.

Last year, neighbouring rivals Monaghan won on spot-kicks following a closely-fought battle at Croke Park and the previous year, in a carbon copy of this weekend’s showpiece, they lost to Galway after a penalty shoot-out.

If the replay is also a drawn affair, then the two sides will face off from 12 yards again and the winner will be decided by the dreaded penalty shoot-out.

When and where can I watch the All-Ireland football final?

The game will be shown on BBC NI and RTÉ, with throw-in scheduled for 3.30pm.

*Article updated on 23/07/24