Sports
Champions Corofin survive major fright from Breathnach’s
Corofin 2-8
Mícheál Breathnach 1-9
ALL-Ireland champions Corofin came back from a five point half-time deficit to edge out Mícheál Breathnach in an enthralling encounter at Pearse Stadium on Sunday evening. A goal from Corofin’s Gary Sice made the difference as the reigning county champions came through a tough test that also showed the men from Indreabhán’s title credentials.
Coming into the game,. Corofin coach Stephen Rochford was without a number of first choice players with backs Cathal Silke and Conor Cunningham headed stateside along with forward Martin Farragher while Kieran Fitzgerald (knee) and Greg Higgins (hip) were still nursing injuries.
Daithí Burke started centre back however after starring in Galway’s victory over Laois in the Leinster SHC semi-final in Tullamore the previous evening. Mícheál Breathnach on the other side were given a fitness boost before the game with full back Pádraig Tim Ó Conghaile and wing forward Seosamh Ó Conaire both cleared to play after picking up knocks last time out in their victory over An Cheathrú Rua.
Corofin got the scoring underway in the first minute when full forward Joe Canney found Ronan Steede 35 yards out from goal who then fired over a great score. A minute later and the game was level – some good inter play from Fiach Ó Bearra and Dónal Ó Curraoin finding Peadar Óg Ó Gríofa who made no mistake with his left boot from 40 yards.
The defending champions then went back in front on six minutes after Micheal Lundy struck over a fine point from 30 yards after some good work from Ian Burke. Breathnach’s then were unlucky not to get the first goal of the game on with some great play from Ó Gríofa who found Ronán Mac Donnacha before he turned his man and fired a rasping shot towards goal only for keeper Thomas Healy to make a fine save to deflect the ball over the bar.
It was the Connemara men who took their first lead on 14 minutes with Sean Denvir finding Mac Donnacha on the right side before he turned inside and fired over a great point on his left foot from 25 yards. Three minutes later and the game was level again – Corofin’s Jason Leonard striking over a free from 20 yards after Steede was taken down.
On 19 minutes the men from north Galway went back in front when Leonard put over his second point of the afternoon from a free after he was fouled 30 yards from goal. Mícheál Breathnach’s were soon back level when Ó Gríofa got his second point from a free 25 yards out from the right after Eanna Ó Conghaile was tripped from behind.
Full report 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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