EirGrid Connacht U20 Football Championship Semi-Final

Galway 0-23 Sligo 1-12

By Kevin Egan at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park

The sun came out for the final set of round robin games in the Eirgrid Connacht U-20FC, but Galway were idle at that stage, having already secured their place in the knockout stages with five points from their first four games.

Tonight Derek Savage’s side had their first outing in Summer conditions in Castlebar and the young Tribesmen absolutely thrived, dominating the opening quarter to build up what ultimately proved to be an insurmountable lead.

Galway’s football in the first 18 minutes was nothing short of sublime. Twelve points were fired over Ethan Carden’s crossbar, and the only wide was a spilled ball from a tackle – every attempt at the posts resulted in the umpire reaching for the flag.

Shay McGlinchey continued to mark himself out as one of the brightest young prospects in the province with an outstanding all-round display and he had two early points on the board, both highlight reel material.

However, the real evidence that Galway could do no wrong was corner forward Jack Mullin, who stepped in as a last-minute replacement for Ronan Colleran and duly terrorised the Sligo full back line, plundering four points from play in the opening half, including an eye-of-a-needle effort that he squeezed through from an impossible angle on the left wing.

At 0-12 to 0-1 with the 20 minute mark looming, it looked catastrophic for last year’s All-Ireland finalists. Galway were dominating the Sligo kickout, while Ross Coen got on the scoresheet with an elegant finish, but the ease with which he sauntered through to get an unchallenged shot away made for dreadful viewing for Sligo supporters.

Then, in 10 ten minutes before half-time, there was a flicker of hope. Defensively they got to grips with things a bit more, and after one goal effort from Rian O’Callaghan was blocked out for a 45, their next attempt saw Robert O’Kelly Lynch drive down through the heart of the defence and set up Connor Flynn for a goal, reducing the half-time deficit to eight points (0-13 to 1-2).

Sligo needed to keep that momentum up into the second half, but Galway’s ongoing ability to win ball from long restarts ensured that they kept the scoreboard moving throughout an enjoyable but ultimately uncompetitive half of football.

Eamon McGrath’s kickouts were impeccable – the Claregalway man further demonstrated his dead ball ability with two excellent pointed frees – and when he didn’t have McGlinchey or his club colleague Jack Lonergan as his primary target, Ciarán Mulhern had a productive outing as a third receiver, dropping into pockets of space from centre forward.

Luke Marren kicked some nice points for Sligo while Eli Rooney made a strong impression off the bench, with Rossa Sloyan and Conor Sheridan also kicking points that demonstrated the quality that there is in this Sligo group, but Galway never went too long without scoring themselves and they always had at least six points to spare as they set up a provincial final tilt against Roscommon on Saturday week.

Scorers for Galway: Jack Mullin 0-4, Colm Costello 0-4 (2fs), Matthew Thompson 0-3 (1f), Shay McGlinchey 0-2, Ciarán Mulhern 0-2, Cian Murphy 0-2, Eamon McGrath 0-2 (2fs), Ross Coen 0-1, Mark Mannion 0-1, Jack Lonergan 0-1, Fionn Mac Donnacha 0-1 (m).

Scorers for Sligo: Luke Marren 0-5 (3fs), Connor Flynn 1-0, Eli Rooney 0-3 (1f), Rossa Sloyan 0-1, Ronan Niland 0-1, Conor Sheridan 0-1, Robert O’Kelly Lynch 0-1.

Galway: Eamon McGrath; Shane Canavan, Darragh Costello, Brian Noone; Jack Folan, Ross Coen, Mark Mannion; Shay McGlinchey, Jack Lonergan; Matthew Thompson, Cian Murphy, Conor Heneghan; Jack Mullin, Ciarán Mulhern, Colm Costello.

Subs: Fionn Mac Donnacha for Mullin (44), Daithi Kilcommins for Heneghan (51), Luc O’Connor for Folan (53), Pádraic Godwin for Mannion (53), Cormac Greaney for Coen (58).

Sligo: Ethan Carden; Ronan O’Hehir, Conor Johnston, Tommy Ross; Rian O’Callaghan, Dylan McLoughlin, Rossa Sloyan; Ross Doherty, Conor Sheridan; Robert O’Kelly Lynch, Ronan Niland, Conor Walsh; Luke Marren, James Donlon, Conor Flynn.

Subs: Dillon Walsh for O’Callaghan (HT), Eli Rooney for Donlon (37), Mark McDaniel for Flynn (39), Eoin Barrett for Johnston (45), Oran Harte for Ross (49).

Referee: Michael McGirl (Leitrim).

Connacht SFC Semi-Final

Galway 1-13 Sligo 0-14

By Liam Maloney at Markievicz Park

Galway got out of jail at Markievicz Park as full-forward Robert Finnerty’s goal in second-half added time gave Padraic Joyce’s side a two-point win over a superb Sligo.

Finnerty, who finished with 1-5, was the match-winner and it was powerful substitute Damien Comer who helped turn things in Galway’s favour as they were on the brink of a shock defeat.

Holders Galway were looking to reach a ninth successive Connacht final while Sligo were aiming to qualify for a second successive decider for the first time.

Galway were favourites based not only on their Allianz Football League Division One status – compared to Sligo being in Division Three – but because they had 14 points to spare when they comfortably defeated Sligo in last year’s final at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park.

It was 12 years since Sligo last defeated Galway in the province at senior level – this was a semi-final in 2012.

Sligo were hoping to exploit home advantage as Markievicz Park was the scene for some thrilling contests with the Tribesmen over the years, including three draws at the Sligo town venue in the 1990s.

In splendid sunshine reminiscent of a championship weekend in June or July, Sligo belied pre-match predictions by taking the game to Galway and hurting them on the scoreboard.

Sligo registered four good points without reply to lead 0-4 to 0-0 by the 12^th minute – this early surge included scores from Nathan Mullen, Cian Lally, Niall Murphy and Canice Mulligan.

Galway didn’t get on the scoreboard until Shane Walsh’s classy point after 13^th minutes and they later fell four points down again, 0-5 to 0-1, after a fine Sligo score from the influential Patrick O’Connor.

The visitors finally began to get a foothold and three points without reply had them within a point of Sligo, 0-5 to 0-4, by the 23^rd minute.

But Sligo stayed in front for the remainder of the opening half and were deserving of their three-point interval lead, 0-9 to 0-6.

Galway, however, had kicked six wides in the first-half (compared to Sligo’s four misses), and a series of unexploited goal chances from Galway let Sligo off the hook – Cein Darcy, Liam O’Conghaile and Jake McCabe all should have goaled.

Sligo looked to continue their zest in the second-half but when Galway summoned Damien Comer from the bench in the 47^thminute Sligo were under additional pressure and Comer bagged a fine point within minutes of his introduction.

The hosts were three points clear, 0-13 to 0-10, after 50 minutes when Sean Carrabine pointed with aplomb but Sligo only scored once more after that when Niall Murphy landed a classy score from Patrick O’Connor’s pass eight minutes later.

Bit by bit Galway came back into it, without really impressing, as points from substitute Kieran Molloy and Cein Darcy made it a one-point game, 0-14 to 0-13, with additional time looming.

A defensive error led to Galway’s goal chance in the second minute of time added on. Damien Comer powered through and set up Johnny Heaney, who put the ball on a plate for Robert Finnerty to flick it into the net.

This goal put Galway in front for the first time, 1-13 to 0-14, and it was enough to get them over the line, albeit unconvincingly.

Scorers for Galway: Robert Finnerty 1-5 (1f), Damien Comer 0-2, Cein Darcy 0-2, Dylan McHugh 0-1, Johnny Heaney 0-1, Shane Walsh 0-1, Kieran Molloy 0-1.

Scorers for Sligo: Niall Murphy 0-3 (1f, 1 ‘mark’), Patrick O’Connor 0-3, Alan McLoughlin 0-2, Nathan Mullen 0-1, Darragh Cummins 0-1, Sean Carrabine 0-1, Canice Mulligan 0-1, Cian Lally 0-1, Mikey Gordon 0-1.

Galway: Conor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Sean Fitzgerald, Jack Glynn; Dylan McHugh, John Daly, Liam Silke; Paul Conroy, Sean Kelly; Johnny Heaney, Shane Walsh, Cein Darcy; Jack McCabe, Robert Finnerty, Liam O’Conghaile.

Subs: Damien Comer for Jack McCabe (42), Cillian O’Curraoin for Shane Walsh (47), Daniel O’Flaherty for John Daly (55), Kieran Molloy for Liam O’Conghaile (58), Patrick Egan for Paul Conroy (64).

Sligo: Aidan Devaney; Evan Lyons, Eddie McGuinness, Paul McNamara; Brian Cox, Nathan Mullen, Darragh Cummins; Sean Carrabine, Canice Mulligan; Cian Lally, Alan McLoughlin, Patrick O’Connor; Paul Kilcoyne, Niall Murphy, Mikey Gordon.

Subs: Lee Deignan for Mikey Gordon (52), Mark Walsh for Cian Lally (62), Peter Laffey for Darragh Cummins (65), Eoghan Smith for Sean Carrabine (67), Donal Conlon for Patrick O’Connor (70+1).

Referee: Barry Tiernan (Dublin).

The Galway U17 football team to face Roscommon in Round 2 of the Connacht Minor Football championship on Friday is announced

Galway v Roscommon, Dr Hyde Park, 6.45PM.

Buy Match Tickets online in advance, click here to purchase.

Match Tickets will not be on sale at the venue, U16s go free and do not require a ticket.

Game is Live Streamed on Connacht GAA website, click here to purchase the streaming pass.

Do not click on or purchase any fake streaming links!

Best of Luck to Neil McHugh, team management and Minor squad!

#riseofthetribes
#gaillimhabú

 The Galway Senior Football team to face London in the Connacht GAA Senior Football Championship Quarter Final on Saturday is announced

 Best of Luck to Pádraic Joyce, Team Management & our Senior Footballers as Championship season gets underway !

#riseofthetribes

#gaillimhabú

Allianz Football League Division One

Galway 3-12 Monaghan 0-14

By Colm Shalvey at St Tiernach’s Park

Galway gave their hopes of staying in Division One of the Allianz NFL a significant boost with a win over Monaghan in Clones.

The return of some of Monaghan’s veterans wasn’t enough to inspire a bounce back to winning ways for the hosts, who remain bottom of the table after a disastrous finish to the first half.

Galway pounced for three goals during that spell, with Cathal Sweeney, Rory Cunningham and John Maher all profiting from defensive errors to put the visitors in the driving seat. They were always able to keep Monaghan at arm’s length from there on as they secured a win that sees them jump out of the relegation zone with two rounds remaining.

The teams shared just two points each in the first ten minutes, with Dessie Ward’s opener for Monaghan being answered by a Rob Finnerty free. As the game belatedly came to life, points from Rory Cunningham and Finnerty for Galway were cancelled out by Jack McCarron and the lively Michael Hamill. McCarron regained the lead for Monaghan on 25 minutes, but things unravelled for the home side in the remainder of the first half.

The initial dagger arrived when Monaghan failed to deal with a hopeful punt forward from Dylan McHugh, allowing Cathal Sweeney to hit the net. Another followed within five minutes, as Cunningham reacted quickest when a Finnerty free came back off the woodwork to fire home a second goal, moments after Andrew Woods had been black-carded.

Monaghan responded through McCarron, Mícheál Bannigan and Hamill, only to have all that work undone deep into added time when they couldn’t clear a sideline from Finnerty, allowing John Maher to scramble home a third major for Galway, who led by 3-4 to 0-7 at the break.

Despite managing third-quarter points from Bannigan, Ward and returning sub Conor McCarthy, Monaghan were never able to significantly eat into their deficit, with Galway able to reply via John Daly, Cunningham and Cillian Ó Curraoin.

Conor McManus marked his first appearance of the season with a late point from a free, but Ó Curraoin ended his half-hour’s work with 0-5 to his name – four from frees and one from a forward mark – as the Tribesmen stayed well clear, with Seán Kelly capping their win with a great score late on.

Galway host an in-form Dublin side in round six, while Monaghan face an Ulster derby away to Tyrone.

Scorers for Monaghan: Jack McCarron 0-4 (2f, 1m), Michael Hamill 0-2, Dessie Ward 0-2, Mícheál Bannigan 0-2 (1f, 1m), Conor McCarthy 0-2, Ryan O’Toole 0-1, Conor McManus 0-1f.

Scorers for Galway: Rory Cunningham 1-3, Cillian Ó Curraoin 0-5 (4f, 1m), John Maher 1-0, Cathal Sweeney 1-0, Rob Finnerty 0-2 (2fs), John Daly 0-1, Seán Kelly 0-1.

Galway: Connor Gleeson; Seán Mulkerrin, Johnny McGrath, Seán Fitzgerald; Dylan McHugh, John Daly, Daniel O’Flaherty; John Maher, Céin D’Arcy; Johnny Heaney, Seán Kelly, Cathal Sweeney; Niall Daly, Rob Finnerty, Rory Cunningham.

Subs: Jack Glynn for Mulkerrin (26), Liam Ó Conghaile for Finnerty (HT), Cillian Ó Curraoin for D’Arcy (47), Kieran Molloy for Heaney (49), Parick Egan for Sweeney (65).

Monaghan: Darren McDonnell; Thomas McPhillips, Ryan Wylie, Ryan O’Toole; Karl O’Connell, Kieran Duffy, Killian Lavelle; Mícheál McCarville, Darren Hughes; Michael Hamill, Mícheál Bannigan, Dessie Ward; Andrew Woods, Jack McCarron, Ciarán McNulty.

Subs: Conor McCarthy for Woods (45), Conor McManus for McNulty (49), David Garland for O’Connell (54), Jason Irwin for Bannigan (62), Kevin Loughran for Ward (65).

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry).