Connacht SFC Semi-Final

Galway 1-20 Leitrim 2-12

By Billy Coss at Heartland Credit Union Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada

They had a 10-point lead whittled down to just three inside the closing quarter, but Galway ultimately steadied the ship in the face of Leitrim’s heroic second half showing in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Though Leitrim hadn’t tasted victory against Galway in championship football since the season of their second and last provincial title in 1994, they were firmly in contention to produce the shock of the season and bridge that gap with a stirring fightback.

Goals from Oisín McLoughlin and Jack Kelly along with two-pointers from ‘keeper Killian Gaffey, Barry McNulty and Paul Honeyman were the centrepiece of their challenge.

But with some of the heavy lifting done in the first half, Dylan McHugh netting their only goal, and Shane Walsh making an impact on his introduction, Galway weathered the storm to reach an 11th Connacht final in succession.

Two-pointers from Paul Conroy, Robert Finnerty and Liam Ó Conghaile helped the Tribesmen build an 0-11 to 0-4 lead in a low-quality opening half that was littered with below-par finishing.

Coming off their against-the-odds win over Sligo, Leitrim’s chances appeared remote after an early Riordan O’Rourke point was their sole score from play in the half with frees coming from Ben Guckian and ‘keeper Killian Gaffey from two-point range.

Eight points divided the teams early in the second half in front of the 4,843 attendance at Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada. That was before Barry McNulty converted a two-point free and Oisín McLoughlin turned home the rebound after Connor Gleeson parried Ryan O’Rourke’s 46th penalty.

Leitrim were within striking distance trailing by 0-12 to 1-6 and also had the benefit of an extra man following Galway ‘keeper Conor Flaherty’s black card.

Yet, the home side were soon reduced to 14 when Mark Diffley was sent to the sin-bin as Galway regained the initiative and surged 1-17 to 1-7 in front by the 58th minute with Dylan McHugh palming home their goal after Damien Comer and Sean Kelly were involved in the build-up.

With their margin in double-digits, the Nestor Cup holders looked safe again. But Leitrim rallied once more and were back in contention by the 61st minute after Jack Kelly applied the finishing touch to McLoughlin’s pass for their second goal. Riordan O’Rourke and Gaffey, via a 45, were also on target while Paul Honeyman kicked a two in a run of 1-4 without answer as the scoreline stood at 1-17 to 2-11.

A major upset looked a live possibility, but with Shane Walsh and Robert Finnerty scores releasing the pressure valve, Galway held firm in the closing minutes to reach a provincial decider.

Scorers for Galway: Robert Finnerty 0-4 (1tp, 2f); Paul Conroy (1tp), Shane Walsh (2f) and Liam Ó Conghaile (1tp) 0-3 each; Dylan McHugh 1-0; Cillian McDaid 0-2; Sean Kelly, Shane McGrath, John Maher, Finnian Ó Laoi and John Daly 0-1 each.

Scorers for Leitrim: Oisín McLoughlin 1-1; Killian Gaffey 0-3 (1tpf, 145); Jack Kelly 1-0; Riordan O’Rourke, Barry McNulty (tpf) and Paul Honeyman (tp) 0-2 each; B Guckian (f) and Ryan O’Rourke (f) 0-1 each.

Galway: Conor Flaherty, Johnny McGrath, Séan Fitzgerald, Séan Ó Maoilchiaráin; Dylan McHugh, Liam Silke, John Daly; Céin D’Arcy, John Maher; Paul Conroy, Finnian Ó Laoi, Cillian McDaid; Robert Finnerty, Oisín Mac Donnacha, Liam Ó Conghaile.

Subs: Shane Walsh for Mac Donnacha (41), Shane McGrath for Ó Laoi (41), Connor Gleeson for Ó Conghaile (46), Seán Kelly for Johnny McGrath (temporary, 55), Damien Comer for Flaherty (56), Maitias Eoin Bairéad for McDaid (61).

Leitrim: Killian Gaffey; Cillian McGloin, Seán Harkin, Conor Reynolds; Eoin McLoughlin, Mark Diffley, Keith Keegan; Conor Quinn, Barry McNulty; Fergal McLoughlin, Riordan O’Rourke, Tom Prior; Oisín McLoughlin, Ben Guckian, Ryan O’Rourke.

Subs: Paul Honeyman for Guckian (44), Jack Kelly for Fergal McLoughlin (51), Kieran Clancy for Harkin (53), Eanna McNamara for McGloin (54), Michael McKiernan for Quinn (66).

Referee: Niall Cullen (Fermanagh).

Death of Tuam Stars and Galway footballer

by Jim Carney

Galway GAA are mourning the death of Michael (“Hauleen”) McDonagh of the Tuam Stars 7 in a row team of 1954-to-1960, and of Galway minor, junior and senior teams of the same decade.

Known all his sporting life as Hauleen (from the Irish Mícheáleen), he was born in 1936. Educated at Tuam CBS and the Technical School, he went on to become a fitter, leading to a career lasting for 30 years as an instructor with AnCO / FÁS.

In the early 1950s, he was regarded as a very skilful juvenile footballer and in exciting clashes with Ballinasloe, in particular, they graduated to county minor teams. They also shared in Galway’s All-Ireland Technical schools’ victory over Offaly in 1954, with Hauleen captain of the team.

Hauleen McDonagh played for the Galway minor teams of 1953 and ’54, and with Tuam Stars he won the first of his eight senior championship medals in 1954. He played for the county juniors in 1955 and for the seniors early in ’56, but illness kept him out of the All-Ireland panel in that year. With the Galway junior team in 1958, he won an All-Ireland medal. In ’59, he played in the All-Ireland senior final, won by Kerry.

Injury kept Hauleen out of the 1960 county final against Ballinasloe, but he had two more memorable days: the 1962 championship

final, and the 1964 league final (played on April 11, 1965). Hauleen was a proud team captain on the day the Stars defeated Dunmore MacHales in the county league final at Tuam Stadium.

And he had another day to remember with pride in September 1986 when his son Maurice played at left half-forward for Galway minor footballers in their All-Ireland final victory over Cork.

Suaimhneas síoraí dá anam dílis.

🏐 TEAM NEWS 🏐

Dalata Hotel Group Connacht U20 Football Championship Round 1

🗓️Wednesday 18th March
Galway v Roscommon
📍Tuam Stadium
🕔5.00pm
🎟️Buy Match Tickets
https://universe.com/events/dalata-hotel-group-connacht-u20-football-championship-r1-galway-v-roscommon-tickets-216X4W

⚠️ Tickets will not be on sale at the ground

Stream Live on Connacht GAA TV📺
https://page.inplayer.com/connachtgaa/item.html?id=5092774

Best of luck to Kevin, team management and our U20 Footballers for the season ahead!

#riseofthetribes
#gaillimhabú

The Galway Senior Football team to face Monaghan in Round 6 of the Football league is announced:

GALWAY V MONAGHAN
📍Páirc Grattan, Inniskeen
🗓️Sunday 15th March 2026
🕓3.45 PM
📻Radio Commentary on Galway Bay FM, RnaG Spórt
📺 TG4

Match Tickets 🎟
https://www.ticketmaster.ie/event/18006429BDD3D440

Best of Luck to our Senior Footballers & Team Management !

#riseofthetribes
#gaillimhabú

The Galway Senior Football team to face Roscommon in Round 4 of the Football League is announced:

 

GAILLIMH V ROS COMÁIN
Pearse Stadium
Saturday 21 Feb 2026
7.00PM
 Radio Commentary on Galway Bay FM, RnaG Spórt

Buy Match Tickets 
https://www.ticketmaster.ie/event/18006451ADD8B989

Tickets also available in Centra and SuperValu stores.

Best of Luck to our Senior Footballers & Team Management !

#riseofthetribes
#gaillimhabú