The County Teams Fundraiser Draw was held last night in the Loughrea Hotel & Spa. Below are the results of the Draw.

• 1st Prize: Toyota Camry Sol
  • Sponsored by Tony Burke Motors, Ballybrit.
  • Winner: Michael Walsh, Ashford, Cong.
    
    

• 2nd Place: Trip for two to New York
  • Flights, Accommodation, Match tickets for Galway v. New York in Connacht S.F.C. 2020
  • Sponsored by Jake’s Saloon NYC, c/o Jimmy Glynn.
    
  • Winner: Anne Burke, Meadow View, Brackloon, Ballyglunin, Tuam.
    
    
    

• 3rd Prize: 2 x All Ireland Hurling Final tickets (2020 Final)
  • including overnight stay in the Intercontinental Hotel Dublin.
  • Winner: Paul Hearty, Lakeview, Claregalway.
    
    
    

• 4th Prize: 2 x All Ireland Football Final tickets (2020 Final)
  • including overnight stay in the Intercontinental Hotel Dublin.
    Winner: Frank Kearney, Lackagh, Turloughmore.
    
    
    

• 5th Prize: 2 x Galway GAA Club Passes
  • Winner: Dan McArdle, Gortadooey, Claregalway.
    

Congratulations to all the lucky winners and Sincere Thanks to all who supported this Fundraiser on behalf of our County teams.

Is mise le meas,

Michael Burke
Cisteoir, Coiste Chontae na Gaillimhe, CLG

"After 13 years wearing the maroon and white jersey, and after careful consideration, I have made the decision to step away from the Galway senior hurling panel. It’s a massive privilege to play for your county and I feel honoured and proud that I got to play for Galway for as long as I did. I was lucky enough to win everything on offer at least once.

I was blessed to have shared a dressingroom with such brilliant people throughout my career, which enabled me to forge friendships that will last a lifetime. It was an honour to go into battle with all of those Galway players, while it was also a privilege to get the opportunity to play against the very best players from other counties.

I was also lucky to have enjoyed the support of excellent managers, coaches and backroom team members over the years. Special mention must go to the managers I played under – Ger Loughnane, John McIntyre, Anthony Cunningham and Micheal Donoghue.

I’d particularly like to extend huge thanks to Christy O’Connor for being my goalkeeping coach all the way back to before I started with Galway in 2007. Christy opened my mind as to what was required at the top level, and he really lifted my standards.

I’m indebted to my club Kinvara for all their support and loyalty over the years. I want to pay tribute to all the coaches that helped me improve my game, which enabled me progress and go on and play for Galway.

I’d also like to thank the various county board members which looked after us over the years.

Most of all though, I’d like to thank my family. My wife Jen has always provided the amazing support which allowed me to chase my dream for so long. Her patience and understanding facilitated the longevity of my career, especially with our two young kids at home, Ciara and Daniel. I hope I made ye all proud.

I’d also like to pay a special thanks to my parents, Mary & Gerry and my sisters, Colleen and Roisin. It was the best feeling ever to share some of those golden moments with them after matches.

I’m content that I gave everything I had to the Galway jersey for 13 years. I’ve loved every minute of my journey and to have played in front of its dedicated and passionate supporters has allowed me to make memories that I will cherish forever.

I’d also like to thank Shane O’Neill for his understanding and support of my decision. I’m also delighted that the transition will be made easier after accepting a coaching role in Shane’s new backroom team.

Let the next chapter begin! Up Galway! "

Colm Callanan

AIB Connacht Club SFC Final

Sunday 24 November 2019

COROFIN (GALWAY) 1-10 PADRAIG PEARSES (ROSCOMMON) 0-7

By Cian O'Connell at Tuam Stadium

Regardless of the conditions or temperature, Corofin simply possess the great sporting ability of finding a way to win.

First time AIB Connacht Club finalists Padraig Pearses brought plenty of passion to Tuam Stadium, but it was Corofin, who had the poise to secure a 10th provincial crown.

Pearses had thundered into the contest in the third quarter drawing level, but when the most demanding questions were being posed Corofin located the answers.

During a trademark burst Corofin reeled off 1-4 without reply including a splendid Liam Silke goal in the 43rd minute.

That was the decisive play as Jason Leonard’s delicious pass released Ian Burke, who subsequently transferred the ball to Silke. The Pearses net danced and Corofin had regained the initiative.

Michael Farragher, Leonard (two), and substitute Colin Brady extended Corofin’s advantage as the polished Galway team made it four Connacht titles on the spin.

The opening period was tight, tense, and frenetic, but Corofin were still doing enough as the standard bearers departed armed with a 0-5 to 0-2 advantage.

Keen to remain competitive Pearses didn’t land a score from play as Corofin tried to stitch their attacking patterns together.

From nine first half shots Corofin mined five scores which was healthier than Pearses two from six efforts ensuring Kevin O’Brien’s outfit led at the break.

A gritty Pearses outfit, roared on by a significant travelling support, did bring some fury, but the Corofin defence was coping well.
After the restart, though, Pearses, with Paul Carey prominent, clipped four of the next five scores to restore parity.

Suddenly Corofin were encountering some difficulty, but they didn’t panic. In the 43rd minute Leonard’s clever pass enabled Burke to provide the assist for Silke’s goal.

Pearses, who had Niall Daly dismissed for a second yellow card in the dying embers, battled until the bitter end, but sufficient Corofin damage had been inflicted.

Another All Ireland semi-final beckons for Corofin.

Scorers for Corofin: Liam Silke 1-0, Jason Leonard 0-3 (1f), Michael Farragher and Gary Sice (2fs) 0-2 each, Dylan Wall, Colin Brady, and Ronan Steede 0-1 each.

Scorers for Padraig Pearses: Paul Carey 0-3 (2fs), Ronan Daly, Niall Daly, Emmett Kelly (45), and Hubert Darcy (f) 0-1 each.

COROFIN: Bernard Power; Liam Silke, Kieran Fitzgerald, Cathal Silke; Kieran Molloy, Conor Cunningham, Dylan Wall; Daithi Burke, Ronan Steede; Gary Sice, Michael Farragher, Jason Leonard; Micheal Lundy, Martin Farragher, Ian Burke.

Subs: Dylan McHugh for Cunningham (28, BC), Darragh Silke for Lundy (44), Colin Brady for C Silke (44), Gavin Burke for Wall (56), Dylan Canney for Steede (59), Ciaran McGrath for Martin Farragher (60), Dean Hynes for Michael Farragher (60+4).

PADRAIG PEARSES: Paul Whelan; Mark Richardson, Anthony Butler, Shane Carty; Gavin Downey, David Murray, Ronan Daly; Niall Carty, Conor Daly; Lorcan Daly, Niall Carty, Paul Carey; Emmett Kelly, Hubert Darcy, Conor Payne.

Subs: Tom Butler for N Carty (20, BC), Sean Fahy for Kelly (53), Alan Duffy for S Carty (54, BC), Shane Mulvey for L Daly (60+3), J Kelly for Payne (60+3).

REFEREE: Eamonn O’Grady (Leitrim).

Oughterard 1-16

The Neale 0-11

By Brían Mangan

A brilliant second half surge was enough to power Oughterard to the Connacht Intermediate title after a hard fought win over The Neale under the lights in a freezing cold MacHale Park  tonight. There was absolutely nothing between the teams in the first half as they went in deadlocked 0-7 each but the Galway Champions upped it several gears in the second half to outscore their opponents 1-9 to 0-3 for the half to march on to the All Ireland Semi Final in January.

There was absolutely nothing to separate the sides at the half time break, both teams holding the lead at various stages with both playing good open attacking football looking to commit men forward rather than to defence. The Neale started brighter, their opening score coming after brilliant work from Fergal Sweeney forced a turnover and allowed Padraic Walsh to get his team on the board. The teams exchanged points for the duration of the 30 minutes, with the outstanding Matthew Tierney to the fore kicking 4 for Oughterard, although he did miss two goal chances within a minute of each other in the twelfth minute. He was first denied by a good Patrick Hopkins save and the other time going for the goal after being well set up by the Enda Tierney but seeing his rasper blaze over. Wing backs Brian O’Hllaoran and Cian Monaghan swopped points before The Neale enjoyed a bit of a purple patch midway through the half and led by two through 3 good frees from Sean Cosgrove after getting on top at midfield. Simon Ryan nearly broke the crossbar during this spell with a rocket of a shot but Jordan Wallers goal remained unbreeched. A goal at this point could have been the springboard for a victory for them, but the Neale were unlucky and those are the margins that can swing Provincial Finals. Oughterard regained parity at midfield and Niall Lee pointed after Patrick Walsh’s strike came back off the bar to level the teams on 0-7 at the break after a cracking first halfs action.

Danger man Tommy Conroy (who was otherwise well marked by Eddie O’Sullivan all game) opened the scoring in the second half for The Neale, but this was to be their last score for 25 mins as Oughterard completely took over for the rest of the game. Eric Lee landed a monster point and Brian O’Halloran slotted his second as they put a bit of daylight between the teams in the tenth minute of the half. Outstanding free taking from Enda and man of the match Matthew Tierney was one of the most striking things about the game, with neither missing any of their dead balls and they combined for 1-9 in total. The killer blow came in the 18^th minute when Matthew Tierney gained possession twenty yards out, sold a dummy solo with his left foot and calmly stroked home with his right for a touch of class and an 8 point lead for the Galway men which they were never going to be caught from. 1-16 to 0-11 was the final score, and the Neale will be wondering what happened in the second half to derail them having being going so well up to then. Their supporters will be delighted with the season overall however, and will relish the opportunity of senior football in 2020. Oughterard have all that to look forward to aswell, before they take care of the small matter of an All Ireland Semi Final, and on this showing it will take a serious team to stop them.

The Neale: P Hopkins, D Morrin, M Varley, A Varley, B O’Halloran (0-1), S Conroy, S Morrin, D Moran, A O’Sullivan, O Connolly, F Sweeney (0-1), S Cosgrove (0-5fs), S Ryan (0-1), P Walsh (0-1), T Conroy (0-1) SUBS D Keane (0-1), P McGrath, O Coburn, Z Feerick, J Duffy

Oughterard: J Waller, C Hanley, P Walsh, L Moran, C Monaghan (0-2), R Molloy, E O’Sullivan, E Tierney (0-4, 0-3fs), PJ McGauley, P Walsh (0-1), M Tierney (1-5, 0-3fs), E Lee (0-1), B Lambert (0-1), N Lee (0-2, 0-1f), R Monaghan SUBS C Harte, P Gibbons, C Clancy, I Gibbons, P Gibbons, R Gill

Referee Patrick Guckian

Galway SHC Final

ST THOMAS’ 1-13 LIAM MELLOWS 0-14

By Cian O'Connell at Pearse Stadium

Those who braved the bitter Salthill cold witnessed a game that went the distance as St Thomas’ eventually shrugged off Liam Mellows’ spirited challenge to retain the Galway Senior Hurling Championship.

That the ultra promising Fintan Burke, who was forced off with a cruciate ligament injury in the AIB All Ireland Club decider on St Patrick’s Day, made some of the decisive plays late on merely added to the sense of satisfaction for the victors.

Thomas’ were being severely tested by a pumped up Liam Mellows outfit, who mined 0-11 from their first 11 shots, but ultimately the standard bearers survived.

Trailing by four at the interval Thomas’ came thundering back after the restart with Fintan Burke’s introduction injecting further substance.

Burke drilled two points and also had the craft to supply the pass for Eanna Burke’s insurance score in additional time.

Mellows’ battled until the bitter end, but just couldn’t recover as the city outfit suffered a second county final defeat on the spin.

Ultimately the critical Thomas’ goal arrived in the 51st minute when Eanna Burke rattled the Mellows net from an acute angle.

Burke’s opportunistic intervention edged Thomas’ in front and suddenly Mellows were in significant bother as the momentum had shifted.

Initially the opening period was about Mellows efficiency as Louis Mulqueen’s charges struck 0-11 from 12 first half attempts.

Thomas’ only managed 0-7 from 16 which showed that chances were being created, but a combination of poor shot selection and Mellows’ passion disturbed the favourites.

Still after the restart Darragh Burke thumped over two frees and Bernard Burke added a point narrowing the gap to the minimum with James Regan and David Burke increasingly influential.

Tadhg Haran guided Mellows two clear with a free, but then Eanna Burke supplied a splendid goal with nine minutes remaining.

Mellows did get back on terms courtesy of Haran, but Fintan Burke was now a central protagonist clipping a couple of important points.

Those efforts ensured Thomas’ led 1-12 to 0-13 in the dying embers before Haran replied with his third second half free for Mellows.

Fintan Burke subsequently turned provider for Eanna Burke, who decorated a delightful display to seal the deal.

It was a disappointing end for Mellows who had been so clinical at the outset, but the fact that only three of their last nine efforts were converted meant Thomas’ prevailed.

These are particularly interesting times for a gifted crop of Thomas’ hurlers, who demonstrated the requisite graft and craft when demanding questions were posed.

Scorers for St Thomas’: Eanna Burke 1-3, Darragh Burke 0-5 (4fs), Bernard Burke and Fintan Burke 0-2 each, David Burke 0-1.

Scorers for Liam Mellows: Tadhg Haran 0-9 (7fs, 165), Conor Elwood 0-2, Ronan Elwood, Jack Forde, and Conor Kavanagh 0-1 each.

ST THOMAS’: James Barrett; Cian Mahoney, Sean Skehill, David Sherry; Cathal Burke, Shane Cooney, Donal Cooney; James Regan, David Burke; Bernard Burke, Conor Cooney, Darragh Burke; Eanna Burke, Brendan Farrell, Oisin Flannery.

Subs: Fintan Burke for Farrell (39), Evan Duggan for B Burke (60+3).

LIAM MELLOWS: Kenneth Walsh; Cathal Reilly, Sean Morrissey, Liam O’Donovan; Stephen Barrett, David Collins, Mark Hughes; Jack Forde, Adrian Morrissey; Jack Hastings, Conor Elwood, Ronan Elwood; Tadhg Haran, Aonghus Callanan, Conor Kavanagh.

Subs: Brian Leen for O’Donovan (HT), Michael Conneely for Callanan (55), John Lee for Forde (60).

REFEREE: Christy Browne.