Sports
Castlegar juniors make no mistake in county final
CASTLEGAR 0-15
MEELICK/EYRECOURT 0-12
CASTLEGAR created history at Kenny Park last Sunday by claiming a fifth County Junior A hurling title becoming the first side to do so at the grade.
A torrential shower hit Athenry ten minutes before throw-in, forcing the reasonable crowd in attendance to scamper for cover and it put a real damper on proceedings. Because of the heavy rain fall, conditions throughout were exceptionally difficult for both sets of players and in turn the game overall became quite a scrappy affair.
Throughout the 60 minutes, Castlegar were a much better side and no one could argue with the result in the end. Despite the poor underfoot conditions, they seemed the more capable side in terms of attack and limiting the threat posed by Meelick-Eyrecourt’s forwards. They won the majority of the 50/50 battles throughout the field and when conditions are tough, this will so often get you over the line.
For Meelick-Eyrecourt, it was a disappointing end in their bid to claim a first ever Junior A title. However, the club has had a year of real progress, with the highlight being winning the Minor B championship, their first minor title since 1964. They were also crowned Under-16 champions this year, winning a second title at the grade in three years – so there are signs of real progression from within the club.
To contest a Junior A final whilst still being an intermediate club is quite an impressive feat from what is a relatively small club. Meelick-Eyrecourt are coming as a force and given the talent emerging from their ranks, their short-term aim of regaining senior status could certainly be achieved in the not too distant future.
However, last Sunday was all about the men from the city. Castlegar are a club that hold a proud hurling tradition and have enjoyed an abundance of glory in the past, despite some lean times in recent years. Success breeds success all the same and Castlegar will have their eyes fixed on adding to their prestigious coffers in the coming years and this victory won’t have done the club’s confidence any harm whatsoever.
Castlegar, in similar fashion to their semi-final victory over Craughwell, were first to score and once again never fell behind during the game upon doing so. The first half was a pretty evenly fought contest with both teams adjusting to the conditions as well as their opponents. Joey Healy landed a point after just 40 seconds and this was added to by their scorer-in-chief, Damien Geraghty, two minutes later.
Trevor Moran opened the Meelick-Eyrecourt account with a free on the fourth minute, before Shaun Corcoran and Owen Downey exchanged points for their respective sides. Moran then notched his second of the day to draw the side’s level, but Damien Geraghty, like he has done so often this year, edged his side back in front with a long-range free.
Peter Stones then had one of the very few goal chances in the game. He collected a high ball from a long distance free, he spun his man and flashed the ball just over the crossbar to level the sides. Once more, inches lower and it would have been a certain goal. Geraghty and Moran pointed a free apiece for their sides to level the game on a scoreline of five points each at the midway point of the opening half.
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.
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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.
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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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