Ranking the ten best Gaelic football games of the summer

Roscommon and Armagh played out a cracker in the qualifiers

After Dublin were crowned All-Ireland champions, we rank the best Gaelic football games of the summer.

10. New York 1-15 Leitrim 0-19 (Connacht SFC)

The first weekend of the summer threw up a classic, as New York almost secured their first ever win on their 20th attempt.

However, the Connacht side emerged after extra-time by the skin of their teeth, as the Exiles' search for a first win in the Big Apple goes on.

9. Tyrone 1-13 Monaghan 0-15 (All-Ireland SFC semi-final)

The two neighbours met for the second time this summer with a place in the All-Ireland final on the line.

It was Tyrone who burst out of the blocks, but Monaghan slowly clawed their way back into the game and looked to be timing their run perfectly as they took the lead in the final ten minutes. However, a devastating Tyrone counter-attack led to Niall Sludden sticking it in the net, and Monaghan were unable to recover.

The All-Ireland semi-final ebbed and flowed

8. Donegal 1-13 Tyrone 2-17 (Super 8s)

Unbeaten in Ballybofey since 2010, Donegal were confident of making home advantage count in this de facto All-Ireland quarter-final. They hosted their Ulster rivals in front of a full house, and the teams on the field responded to the atmosphere.

Declan Bonner's outfit were ahead for much of the tie, but a strong showing from the Tyrone bench saw them home.

7. Meath 0-19 Tyrone 2-14 (All-Ireland SFC qualifiers)

The Royals weren't fancied by many to challenge Tyrone in the first round of the qualifiers. However, a county with a proud footballing tradition would always back themselves at home, and Andy McEntee's charges put it up to the Ulster side right from the off.

Tiernan McCann's dismissal looked like Tyrone were out of luck heading down the home straight, but Cathal McShane landed a late equaliser before Mickey Harte's side ran out comfortable winners in extra-time.

6. Tyrone 1-16 Monaghan 1-18 (Ulster SFC)

The Red Hands opened their campaign at home to Monaghan in a real heavyweight clash. Buoyed by home advantage, the reigning Ulster champions were favourites to progress, but the Farney continued their impressive League form to advance. Conor McManus' late point was up there with one of the scores of the year.

5. Kildare 0-16 Galway 0-19 (Super 8s)

After the Lilywhites suffered a loss to Monaghan in the opening round of the Super 8s, it was do-or-die in St Conleth's Park. The Tribesmen came to town, on the crest of a wave after a Connacht title and a win over Kerry.

Galway put on a powerful display but Kildare looked equal to it. Daniel Flynn's red card ultimately gave the Tribesmen an edge as they ran out three-point winners to reach their first All-Ireland semi-final since 2001.

Kildare were unable to make home advantage count against Galway

4. Laois 2-21 Wexford 1-18 (Leinster SFC)

Wexford were in cruise control in this Leinster first-round tie as they opened up a ten-point lead in the first half. However, the O'Moore County weren't going to go down easy, and forced their way back into the tie with Donie and Paul Kingston along with Ross Munnelly leading the charge.

From facing down the barrel of a gun in the first half, Laois were able to claw their way back and ultimately secure a win after extra-time.

3. Kildare 0-21 Mayo 0-19 (All-Ireland SFC qualifiers)

With all the hype in the build-up to the tie given the venue controversy, it would have been easy to forget that a game of football was taking place.

Cian O'Neill won the battle for the pitch, and his players won the battle on it as well as they out-pointed favourites Mayo to cause the shock of the summer.

2. Monaghan 1-17 Kerry 1-17 (Super 8s)

The Farney County had not been to an All-Ireland semi-final since 1988. They had a chance to bridge that gap when Kerry came to Clones in the Super 8s, and also eliminate the Kingdom in one fell swoop.

Monaghan put together what looked like a winning performance, as Conor McManus ran riot and Rory Beggan landed a succession of long-range frees. However, as the clocked ticked on deep into injury-time, David Clifford popped up at the death with a goal to earn Kerry a draw.

1. Roscommon 2-22 Armagh 1-19 (All-Ireland SFC qualifiers)

As patrons filed into O'Moore Park, Portlaoise for the curtain-raiser of a Round 4 qualifier doubleheader, not many were expecting such a classic. The standard of score-taking, kick-outs and high fielding was immense, and the two sides battled it out, toe-to-toe for a spot in the Super 8s.

Roscommon had more in reserve as they powered to victory in the final ten minutes. However, the six-point margin didn't do a sterling Orchard effort justice.