Sports
Calasanctius claim Senior B Connacht hurling crown
Calasanctius College 3-9
St Joseph’s College 0-10
Calasanctius College Oranmore clinched the Keith Hayes Cup Connacht senior B hurling title under lights last Friday as goals from Peter Finn and Damien O’Reilly helped them to an eight point victory.
Purple patches in both halves allowed Alan Coyle’s team build a sizeable advantage but they had to withstand pressure from their opponents from the start.
St Joseph’s College (The Bish) dominated the opening stages but didn’t make the desired impact on the scoreboard before Finn’s first half major allowed Calasanctius the lead at half-time against the wind.
And even though the city school restored parity in the second half, two O’Reilly goals ensured the Oranmore school would win a first-ever title.
The Bish were quickest from the start as they built a 0-3 to 0-1 lead within nine minutes. Jack Coyne was their scorer-in-chief opening his account in the second minute. Ross Malone replied for Calasanctius but St Joseph’s were getting the better of the early exchanges. Coyne sent over his second free in the sixth minute before an excellent sideline cut from the left flank gave Shane Cusack’s team a two point advantage.
But seven first half wides proved their downfall while they were also guilty of not using the elements in their favour. Low ball into their inside line was stifled by clearances from Sean Bannon and Ronan Walsh when creating taking point chances, despite their misses, looked the better option.
Both full-back lines were giving strong displays with Sean Lee and Mark Ryan-Keane standing out for The Bish. But after Ross Malone split the posts for a second time, Andrew Connolly got the game’s opening score from play in the 16th minute to level at 0-3 apiece.
Malone and Coyne traded frees but Calasanctius showed their threat when a move involving Stephen Commins and Aaron Grealish created a chance for Sam McArdle. But on 25 minutes, the reaped rewards with Connolly’s run on the left creating space before picking out Finn who found the net. Connolly was involved again in the next score 60 seconds later – a one-two sequence setting up Liam Howley for the white flag and Calasanctius led 1-5 to 0-4 at the break.
The Bish needed a more direct and accurate approach upon the change of ends and obliged by restoring equality on the scoreboard within seven minutes of the restart. Coyne got them off the mark after only 49 seconds before Cathal Keane sent over their first from play. The deficit was reduced to the minimum following another Coyne free and when their determination provided a 65 in the 37th minute, Coyne again split the posts to leave it 0-8 to 1-5.
However, Calasanctius, who also had All-Ireland winner Tony Keady in their management team, eventually used the elements in their favour. Finn assisted in two scores that restored the initiative. The first set up Conor Hanniffy for a point in the 40th minute; the other nine minutes later was taken by O’Reilly who got the second goal and the Oranmore School were 2-6 to 0-8 ahead.
For more, read 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
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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.
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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