Comer proves Galway’s ace in Connacht U-21 semi-final

Galway 1-12

Mayo 0-11

AT no stage of this Connacht Championship U-21 football semi-final did Galway look like losing. Yet at the end of it all, the four points they had to spare at MacHale Park offered no convincing evaluation of their true worth.

If Mayo had managed to steal a goal in the last few minutes ­– and they came close on one or two occasions ­– all of Galway’s greater flair and industry might have been in vain. Having begun to settle into a comfortable win, they eased up a bit and Mayo in a late, sudden burst of effort tacked on three points without reply.

It took the gloss off a tenacious Galway performance, but didn’t hide their superiority over a disappointing Mayo side that once again failed to make any sort of U-21 breakthrough in Connacht.

Galway, fired up from the beginning, took control just after Darren McHale had reeled in Mayo’s first score. For the following 15 minutes they stormed Mayo¹s barricades, using the wings to good effect and swinging over four points without reply.

That flurry was started by centre forward Damien Comer, the man of the match, who lit up the game with an exhibition of fielding and kicking that ought to earn him a regular place on the county’s senior side.

The gifted Annaghdown man racked up a total of 1-5, all but one from play, and even amid a collection of stars his shone brightest. His departure near the end of the second half for a black card offence may have been the reason for Galway’s lack of concentration in the final minutes.

Comer’s goal in the 23rd minute changed the trend of the game after Mayo had drawn level at four points apiece. The elusive centre forward stole behind the defence and found perfect position for the centre from substitute Conor Cunningham.

With the assurance of a veteran, Comer won possession and planted the ball in the Mayo net from close range. He could even afford the luxury of missing a sitter some minutes earlier without any lessening of his overall impact on the game.

The goal came a minute before Galway’s Johnny Heaney and Mayo’s midfielder Diarmuid O¹Connor were sidelined for separate black card incidents, O’Connor’s loss far greater for Mayo than Heaney’s for Galway.

Points earlier by Gary Kelly, Michael Day and Comer himself were neutralised by unusual long distance scores to which Mayo’s Stephen Coen and Conor Loftus resorted to when they failed to make any impression on the Galway backline.

Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune.