Allianz Football League Division Donegal 1-9 Galway 1-9 Chris McNulty in Letterkenny

Paul Conroy had one last chance to scrape the win but, ultimately, Donegal and Galway ended with a share of the spoils.

The sun beamed down on a crisp February Sunday in Letterkenny and Conroy, with a free from out on the stand side, seemed sure to win it for the Tribesmen.

At the vital moment, his effort trailed to the left and wide. Seconds later, the hands were shaken as David Coldrick called time on a tepid and error-ridden contest.

Both will have been content with a point, although neither will be too pleased with how they arrived at the conclusion.

It has been a testing start to 2023 for Donegal, who saw their talisman, Michael Murphy, and their rock, Neil McGee, call time on their respective inter-county careers in 2022. The recent hamstring injury that will rule Patrick McBrearty, just appointed Murphy’s successor as captain, for the foreseeable was the latest set-back for new manager Paddy Carr.

At half-time here, they were 1-6 to 1-3 in front when the short whistle sounded.

Donegal went from then until the 67th minute without registering a score until Oisin Gallen finally ended their famine.

Galway had nosed in front with Conroy and Matthew Tierney on target before Gallen struck.

Conor O’Donnell levelled and Donegal still needed Jason McGee to post after a fisted Rob Finnerty point restored Galway’s slender advantage.

Donegal hit something of a purple patch from the 17th minute with Jamie Brennan, Caolan McGonagle and goalkeeper Shaun Patton, on his home turf at O’Donnell Park – a venue at which Donegal have struggled over the years – stroking the points, the latter’s coming via a fine 50-metre free.

In the 25th minute, John Daly, perched right beneath his own crossbar, with the margin for error swaying somewhere between slim and none, was penalised for a throw and Donegal were given a penalty.

Gallen managed to beat Conor Gleeson, Galway’s goalkeeper, from the spot, but only just. Gleeson got a firm hand to the ball, but Gallen’s effort squeezed in.

The umpire behind Gleeson’s goal had barely dropped their green flags when the man in the white coat at the other end was reaching for his.

Just 43 seconds after Gallen converted, Tierney gathered possession and, after cutting a swathe into the Donegal rearguard, tucked past the advancing Shaun Patton to narrow Galway’s deficit to two, 1-5 to 1-3.

A beauty from Michael Langan had Donegal three ahead at the break.

Donegal’s profligacy in front of the posts allowed Galway to creep back and Tierney evened the abacus again in the 52nd minute.

Caolan McColgan stepped in with an excellent intervention to deny Finnerty during a period when Donegal were in danger of kicking the day away.

Substutute Peadar Mogan scurried in for a late Donegal goal chance, but was blocked and the end-to-end finale concluded with Conroy narrowly missing the chance to seal a win for the visitors.

Donegal scorers: Oisin Gallen (1-0pen) 1-2; Conor O’Donnell 0-2; Shaun Patton (f), Jamie Brennan, Caolan McGonagle, Michael Langan, Jason McGee 0-1 each

Galway scorers: Matthew Tierney (1 ’45) 1-3; Paul Conroy (2f), Rob Finnerty 0-2 each; Cathal Sweeney, Peter Cooke 0-1 each.

Donegal: Shaun Patton; Mark Curran, Brendan McCole, Martin O’Reilly; Caolan McColgan, Stephen McMenamin, Eoghan Ban Gallagher; Caolan McGonagle, Jason McGee; Michael Langan, Daire Ó Baoill, Conor O’Donnell; Hugh McFadden, Oisin Gallen, Jamie Brennan. Subs: Peadar Mogan for O’Reilly (half-time), Rory O’Donnell for McFadden (60), Johnny McGroddy for Ó Baoill (68)

Galway: Conor Gleeson; Jack Glynn, Sean Kelly, Eoghan Kelly; Dylan McHugh, John Daly, Cathal Sweeney; Paul Conroy, Cillian McDaid; Matthew Tierney, Peter Cooke, Johnny Heaney; Patrick Kelly, Gerard Davoren, Ian Burke. Subs: Rob Finnerty for Davoren (half-time), John Maher and Ryan Monaghan for Cooke and P Kelly (49), Dessie Conneely for McDaid (55).

Referee: David Coldrick (Meath)

Furiously celebrated by the travelling Roscommon supporters and management, Roscommon will be content following an impressive start to the campaign under new manager Davy Burke.

Allianz Football League Division One – Roscommon 0-9 Galway 0-8

Substitute Richard Hughes’ point in the fifth minute of stoppage time ensured Roscommon left Salthill armed with the full complement of spoils.

Trailing by four following a point from Galway replacement Ian Burke in the 51st minute, Roscommon subsequently clipped five on the spin to earn victory.

Defensive in the opening period, scores and opportunities were scarce in the west. To illustrate how tight it was before the break Galway converted 0-5 from nine attempts, while Roscommon struck 0-3 from eight.

The fact that Damien Comer was stretchered off with a leg injury early on was another disappointing aspect for Galway supporters.

Initially Roscommon landed the first two points courtesy of Daire Cregg and Ciarán Lennon before Galway reeled off five without repl.

During that burst Dylan McHugh and Cillian McDaid clipped sweet efforts for Galway, who eventually departed 0-5 to 0-3 ahead at the turnaround.

Three of the next four points were registered by Galway, who edged 0-8 to 0-4 clear with 19 minutes remaining.

Roscommon, though, refused to be perturbed. Similar to last week’s win against Tyrone a number of players introduced to the game contributed handsomely. Ben O’Carroll (2) and Ciaráin Murtagh rifled over points prior to Diarmuid Murtagh’s 66th minute leveller.

Deep into additional time Roscommon thundered forward with Hughes supplying the decisive point and the visitors’ left the Corribside venue heartened.

Scorers for Roscommon: Diarmuid Murtagh 0-3 (1f), Ben O’Carroll 0-2, Ciarán Lennon, Richard Hughes, and Daire Cregg 0-1 each.

Scorers for Galway: Dessie Conneely 0-3 (3fs), Cillian McDaid, Matthew Tierney, Dylan McHugh, Ian Burke, and Johnny Heaney 0-1 each.

Roscommon: Conor Carroll; Conor Hussey, Conor Daly, Eoin McCormack; Niall Daly, Brian Stack, Dylan Ruane; Tadhg O’Rourke, Keith Doyle; Enda Smith, Diarmuid Murtagh, Ciarán Lennon; Daire Cregg, Conor Cox, Robbie Dolan.

Subs: Ciaráin Murtagh for Cox (HT), Ben O’Carroll for Ruane (47), David Murray for McCormack (47), Richard Hughes for Doyle (51), Colin Walsh for Murray (65-68, blood), Paul Carey for D Murtagh (70+2).

Galway: Connor Gleeson; Jack Glynn, Eoghan Kelly, Neil Mulcahy; Dylan McHugh, John Daly, Seán Kelly; Paul Conroy, Cillian McDaid; Paul Kelly, Matthew Tierney, Peter Cooke; Johnny Heaney, Damien Comer, Eoin Finnerty.

Subs: Dessie Conneely for Comer (10), Ian Burke for P Kelly (HT), Owen Gallagher for Finnerty (51), Cathal Sweeney for Cooke (55), Matthew Barrett for Heaney (64).

Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan).

By Cian O’Connell at Pearse Stadium

AIB Connacht Club SFC Semi-Final

MAIGH CUILINN 2-8 STROKESTOWN 0-7 after extra time

Kevin Egan at Tuam Stadium

Galway and Roscommon champions Maigh Cuilinn and Strokestown are relatively unfamiliar faces in provincial club championship competition, but the two clubs came together this afternoon in Tuam Stadium to produce a contest that was laden with intensity, physicality and all that’s best about the AIB club championship series.

Extra-time goals from Seán Kelly and Ger Davoren settled the tie in favour of the Galway champions and heavy pre-match favourites, though for their part, Strokestown will be immensely proud of what was arguably their best performance of the year so far.

A blistering start for the newly-crowned Fahey Cup holders from East Roscommon saw them move 0-4 to no score in front after eight minutes, with Diarmuid McGann and Shane McGinley each popping over two points from dead balls. 18-year-old McGinley, who made light of the heavy ground and cold air to pop over his two scores from the 45 metre line, was incredibly lively as the lone full-time occupant of the full forward line while at midfield and half-back, Strokestown’s tackling and physicality really discommoded Don Connellan’s Galway title holders.

However the game changed completely when David Butler was black carded. By the time Butler returned the field, Maigh Cuilinn were back on level terms, with momentum on their side, after scores from Dessie Conneely and Owen Gallagher tied up the contest.

That became 0-6 to 0-5 at half-time following another point from each of those two men, Gallagher’s booming strike from the right wing a real highlight, but no-one could have imagined that with 26 minutes gone in the second half, no further flags would have been raised.

In terms of possession, Maigh Cuilinn took control, in no small part because of the introduction of Peter Cooke off the bench. However while the former Galway county man got his hands on a lot of primary possession, his finishing was not what he would have wanted and he accounted for five of his team’s wides, and so it wasn’t until the 57th minute that he made what appeared to be a decisive contribution, winning a free which Dessie Conneely point.

However in the closing minutes, Strokestown midfielder Cathal Compton came up trumps with two huge plays to force extra-time – first making a wonderful high catch to set up a score for Diarmuid McGann, then firing the ball over from the right wing in the fourth minute of stoppage time to leave it 0-7 to 0-7 at the end.

Paul Kelly punched a point to move Maigh Cuilinn into the lead early in extra time, but goal conceded proved fatal to Strokestown’s chances.

A quick free from Peter Cooke to Seán Kelly left the Galway county star clean through on goal, and while Niall Curley did brilliantly to save the first effort, the rebound fell back to Kelly, who picked out the bottom corner at the second attempt.

A red card for Keith Murphy at half-time in extra time left Strokestown with a mountain to climb and while they tried to test the Maigh Cuilinn full back line with a few long, high deliveries into Cathal Compton, the defence held firm and Maigh Cuilinn were able to break clear and clinch their win through a late Ger Davoren tap in goal, setting up a novel provincial final against Tourlestrane in a fortnight.

Scorers for Maigh Cuilinn: Dessie Conneely 0-4 (0-3f), Owen Gallagher 0-3, Seán Kelly 1-0, Ger Davoren 1-0, Paul Kelly 0-1.

Scorers for Strokestown: Diarmuid McGann 0-4 (0-3f), Shane McGinley 0-2 (0-1f, 0-1 45), Cathal Compton 0-1.

Maigh Cuilinn: Seamus Friel; Cian Deane, Neil Mulcahy, Conor Corcoran; Aidan Claffey, Eoin Kelly, Michael Moughan; Tom Clarke, Ger Davoren; Paul Kelly, Micheál Reilly, Seán Kelly; Daniel Cox, Owen Gallagher, Dessie Conneely.

Subs: Peter Cooke for Cox (37 mins), Fionn McDonagh for Davoren (60+1 mins), Davoren for McDonagh (full-time), Conor Bohan for Deane (76 mins), McDonagh for Gallagher (78 mins), Mark Lydon for S Kelly (80 mins).

Strokestown: Niall Curley; Timmy Gibbons, Seán Mullooly, David Neary; Ciarán Regan, Colm Neary, Cathal Brogan; David Butler, Cathal Compton; Keith Murphy, Paddy Brogan, Cathal Lavin; Diarmuid McGann, Colin Compton, Shane McGinley.

Subs: Kevin Finn for Lavin (43 mins), Mikey Kavanagh for Butler (52 mins), Lavin for Kavanagh (full-time), Kavanagh for Regan (76 mins).

Referee: John Gilmartin (Sligo)

Galway Senior Football Championship Final

Maigh Cuilinn 1-10 Salthill-Knocknacarra 1-9

By Billy Coss at Pearse Stadium

A 57th minute Peter Cooke goal proved decisive as Maigh Cuilinn captured their second Galway Senior Football Championship crown in three seasons after a thrilling final with Salthill-Knocknacarra.

It was heartbreak for John O’Mahony’s side who were well placed to upset the odds when taking a two-point lead into the closing stages. There would be a late twist in the tale, however, when Owen Gallagher’s point attempt held up in the wind at the Árus Bóthar na Trá end, and Cooke beat Salthill-Knocknacarra ‘keeper Ruairí Lavelle to the punch to net a dramatic title-winning score.

Maigh Cuilinn had first use of the elements at Pearse Stadium, but it was Salthill-Knocknacarra who made the perfect start when a dipping effort from Daniel O’Flaherty, one of four Galway senior panellists in their ranks, found the top corner of Andrew Power’s net.

It gave Salthill-Knocknacarra a 1-1 to 0-1 lead though Maigh Cuilinn responded in impressive fashion with points from Seán Kelly, Cooke (free), Dessie Conneely (free) and man of the match Gallagher to forge ahead by the ninth minute.

Don Connellan’s team were unable to drive on though and would add just one more score from David Wynne in the remainder of the half. Instead, a Rob Finnerty-inspired Salthill-Knocknacarra took over and carried a 1-5 to 0-6 lead in at the break.

The All-Star nominee accounted for four points for the seasiders into the wind, with Tomo Culhane’s injury-time free further increasing their hopes of a fourth county title.

But with Seán Kelly, Cooke and Gallagher to the fore, Maigh Cuilinn’s renowned running game soon made inroads and back-to-back Conneely frees had the sides on level terms by the 39th minute.

As the tension increased, points from Seánie Ó Leidhinn and Evan Murphy twice edged Salthill-Knocknacarra back in front only for Conneely’s fifth of the afternoon and Gallagher’s second drawing the sides level once more.

The underdogs rallied again and Evan Nolan came off the bench to land two magnificent left-footed scores to edge Salthill-Knocknacarra ever closer to capturing the Frank Fox Cup.

Cooke would have other ideas however and his late intervention delivered a second title in the club’s history.

Scorers for Maigh Cuilinn: Dessie Conneely 0-5 (4f), Peter Cooke 1-1 (1f), Owen Gallagher 0-2, Seán Kelly 0-1, David Wynne 0-1.

Scorers for Salthill-Knocknacarra: Robert Finnerty 0-4 (2f), Daniel O’Flaherty 1-0, Evan Nolan 0-2, Evan Murphy 0-1, Seánie Ó Leidhinn 0-1, Tomo Culhane 0-1 (f).

Maigh Cuilinn: Andrew Power; Cian Deane, Conor Corcoran, David Wynne; Michael Moughan, Neil Mulcahy, Eoghan Kelly; Peter Cooke, Paul Kelly; Ger Davoren, Seán Kelly, Tom Clarke; Micheál O’Reilly, Owen Gallagher, Dessie Conneely (captain). Subs: Aidan Claffey for Deane (h-t); Niall Walsh for Davoren (48), Conor Bohan for O’Reilly (60+2)

Salthill-Knocknacarra: Ruairí Lavelle; Eoin McFadden, William Finnerty, Eoghan Deeley; Cathal Sweeney, Daniel O’Flaherty, Gearóid Armstrong; John Maher, Mikey Culhane; Evan Murphy, Rob Finnerty (captain), Seánie Ó Leidhinn; Donie Hunt, Tomo Culhane, Brian Conlon. Subs: Evan Nolan for Hunt (45), Charlie Power for Conlon (45), Matthew Thompson for Ó Leidhinn (52), Paddy Kitt for Mikey Culhane (60).

Referee: Martin Flaherty.

SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP RELEGATION

Saturday 15.10.22 

An Cheathrú Rua v St. James, Spidéal, 1pm buy tickets here

Sunday 16.10.22 

Oughterard v Monivea-Abbey, Pearse Stadium, 3pm buy tickets here

SWEENEY OIL U17 A FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday 15.10.22

West Final, Maigh Cuilinn v Oranmore-Maree, The Priarie, 4:30pm buy tickets here

North Final, Claregalway v Tuam Stars, Tuam Stadium, 4:30pm buy tickets here