Sports
Galway ladies have no answer to Staunton
Mayo 3-20
Galway 0-16
HAVING seen Galway lift the Connacht title the last four years in succession surely provided Mayo with ample motivation going into last Sunday’s provincial final, and they duly brought the Tribeswomen’s winning sequence to an abrupt halt in Castlebar.
There has generally been a cyclical nature to meetings between Galway and Mayo across both codes down through the years, and it was Mayo’s turn to get one of their near rivals in 2016. Following a clinical team performance, especially in the second half, Mayo captain Sarah Tierney lifted the ‘CBE Cup’ for the 10th time, and there could be no arguments from a Galway perspective over the final result.
Galway’s inter-county season will continue in the Qualifiers at the end of the month for the first time since 2011. One win in that though, and they are into an All-Ireland quarter-final, where they could possibly face Dublin, so it is not all doom and gloom for Willie Ward’s squad despite the comprehensive fashion of Sunday’s 13-point loss.
Galway had led on three occasions in the first half, and although they eventually trailed by four at the break, with the wind at their backs, they had reduced the deficit to the minimum four minutes upon the resumption, but had no answer to Mayo’s direct running and powerful finishing thereafter. When you have a player like Cora Staunton in your side, anything is possible, and the Carnacon player was Mayo’s scorer extraordinaire in chief once again.
Staunton hit Galway for 2-14, 2-9 coming from play, and the Galway full-back line could do little to stop her with no sweeper in front of them. Some of the scores she took were exceptional, and whenever she does retire, Staunton will go down as probably the greatest ladies Gaelic footballer to lace a pair of boots.
Even when Staunton erred, as she did in sending a 40th minute penalty straight down the throat of Johanna Connolly, she immediately regained her composure to slot home the rebound. Four minutes later, Staunton rounded the Galway keeper for her second goal and Mayo led 2-16 to 0-12. As a meaningful contest, the game was done.
Staunton has often carried Mayo to victory herself during her illustrious career, but on Sunday she had a number of able lieutenants in green and red. Sarah Tierney, whose mother hails from Dunmore, marshalled her defence excellently. Marie Corbett, Fiona McHale and Aileen Gilroy in particular carried the ball strongly all afternoon, while Niamh Kelly was very lively in the full-forward line.
Sligo referee John Niland handed out three yellow cards during the match, two to Galway and one to Mayo. Leona Ryder was the first to be sin binned, with Galway defenders Fabienne Cooney and Sarah Gormally following suit. Mayo made Galway hurt substantially more on the scoreboard during the time they were a player up. They scored six points in the time Cooney was off the pitch before the break, and 2-2 when Gormally was sent from the fray during the second period.
Full coverage in this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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GALWAY United need to guard against any kind of complacency when they make the short hop down the M18 this Friday to take on Treaty United at the Markets Field (7.45pm).
The game is a meeting of the two form teams in the division, and as in previous meetings between the sides, will have an additional edge given the number of former United players in the home side’s ranks, and the pair of Limerick lads playing for United.
There might have been just the eight meetings between the sides since Treaty became the latest iteration to represent Limerick in the League of Ireland in 2021, and while United have yet to lose to the men in the candy-cane strips, there has never been more than a goal in four of their eight wins.
The most recent of those was back in February, when Rob Slevin scored the only goal of the game in Eamonn Deacy Park after a tough battle against a side who made a slow start to the season, before finally finding their groove in the past month.
Having taken just three points from their first six games before finally getting a win against Longford Town, they reverted to type with just one point from their next three games, but are now on a run of four wins on the spin, scoring 12 goals and conceding just one.
Their most recent win was a 3-0 victory away to Longford Town last Saturday, and they could have won by double that against the only side to have beaten United this season. That in itself is a warning.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty
While the Salthill Devon men’s team might have lost their grip on the Connacht Junior Cup that they held for two seasons, the club’s women’s side have picked up the mantle and on Sunday last in Headford were crowned provincial champions with a 4-3 win over Manulla.
Following midweek wins for Maree/Oranmore and Knocknacarra, the stage is now almost set for the semi-finals of the Michael Byrne Cup with Salthill Devon meeting St Bernard’s on Sunday in an outstanding quarter-final, with the winners advancing to a semi-final against Maree/Oranmore, while Colga will face Knocknacarra in the other last four contest.
Just one league issue remains to be decided, with the Championship runners-up position up for grabs, as Dynamo Blues have to win their two remaining games in order to overtake Colemanstown United who have finished their programme.
WOMEN’S CONNACHT CUP FINAL
Salthill Devon 4
Manulla 3
Ellerose O’Flaherty scored twice as Salthill Devon were crowned provincial champions with a win over a Mayo side who were losing in the final for the second year in succession.
Backboned by a number of players who previously had League of Ireland experience with Galway WFC, Devon suffered an early set back when Jess Nolan put Manulla ahead, before O’Flaherty levelled matters with a cracking finish on 20 minutes, which was quickly followed by a long-range free-kick from Aoife Walsh.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
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