Galway League’s knock-out hopes hanging by a thread

Galway League 0

Roscommon League 0

SPORTING success is achieved as much through good defence as through a scoring attack and such was the case in Eamonn Deacy Park on Saturday night as a dominant home side failed to breach an impressive Roscommon rearguard in their second Oscar Traynor Cup group tie.

Following their 2-1 loss against the Clare League, Galway’s qualification for the knockout stages now lies outside their own hands as they have just one point from two outings. With Roscommon now on four points following an earlier victory over Mayo, they are in pole position to qualify with Clare, who defeated Mayo by 2-1 in Milebush on Sunday.

However all is not lost, as a win for Gareth Gorman’s charges in their final home game against Mayo would mean it will be down to goal difference if Clare were to defeat Roscommon in their final game.

Showing five changers from the side that lost to the Banner County, in came TJ Forde, James Farrell, Gary Delaney, Simon Walsh and Derek O’Brien and all impressed as the home side generally enjoyed the greater possession and chances, but struggled to bypass visiting goalkeeper Noel Fallon.

Two early stops kept out O’Brien shots, with a reflex save to deny Jason Molloy from a rebound on 19 minutes particularly impressive. However, all the action was not concentrated at one end, as TJ Forde was equally impressive in the home goal as he excelled with saves to thwart Daragh Concannon following a free kick and Ethan Keogh after the winger cut in from the flank and shot at close range.

If the opening half was reasonably balanced, it was Galway who certainly dominated the second, but for all their possession only shots by Simon Walsh and substitute Alan Murphy tested Fallon. Declan Cullen, who formed an impressive central defensive partnership with club colleague James Farrell, should also have hit the target with a header that drifted wide of the far post following a Colm O’Donovan cross.

With Gary Delaney solid in a defensive midfield role and Simon Walsh pushing on at every opportunity, a breakthrough looked like it was forthcoming, but with Joe Woods and Enda Kenny equally impressive in the Roscommon rearguard, scoring was made difficult at both ends.

Full coverage in this week’s Connacht Tribune