Bane’s 10-point plan delivers inter-firms title for Galway Gardaí

Date Published: 06-Apr-2011

Galway Garda 1-17

GAA Coaches (Dublin) 2-6

An exhibition of point scoring from Man of the match Cormac Bane helped the Galway Garda to their first All Ireland Interfirms football title.

In a match played in ideal conditions in a splendid Westmanstown venue (Lucan) the Galway Garda lead from start to finish for a deserved victory.

Leading by four points at the interval, the Tribesmen turned on the style in the second-half with a further 13 points, eight of them coming from the Caherlistrane sharp shooter in what was a great all-around performance from the Connacht champions.

The midfield partnership of Brendan Ryan and Shane Walderon swung the midfield battle in the Westerners favour; Niall Lydon, who scored the Garda goal, worked hard throughout winning a lot of procession and linking well with Bane inside; while Barry Burke and Pat Kelly were the pick of the defence.

The Galway men got off to a blistering start and were five points clear in as many minutes. Two Bane points in the opening three minutes lead the way, and the crucial score of the half arrived moments later when a fine passing movement set up Lydon who crashed home from close range.

Stephen Behan opened the Coaches account after 10 minutes but Pat Kelly restored the eight point gap a few minutes later for the Garda. Despite been on top for most of the match the Galway men were guilty of a number of bad wides and failed to add to their tally for 15 minutes.

The Coaches battled hard to get into the match. Points from James Glancy and Paul Faughnan reduced the deficit but Pauric O Connor had the final say of the opening period with a fine individual point three minutes from the interval.

As in the opening half, Bane fired over two early points, one from a close range free to stretch the Garda’s advantage to six in the early minutes of the second half. When Brian Meaney pointed moments later, the Tribesmen seemed to be coasting.

However they were rocked back on the heels in the 40th minute. Slack marking in the Galway defence allowed Ciaran Farrelly in for an opportunist goal but they soon regained the initiative with a superb sideline kick from Bane to settle any doubts which may have been lingering.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.