Conroy on target as Connacht upset the odds

Connacht 3-19

Munster 2-16

SUNDAY’S hugely entertaining clash between Connacht and Munster was another example of what a shame it would be if the GAA were to allow the Inter-provincial series fall by the wayside. While supporters don’t seem to take the competition seriously, as evidenced by the pathetic crowd of around 100 in Tuam, this was not the case with the players who provided a captivating contest.

Both management teams selected strong sides, with 56 provincial medals shared between the two panels. The Munster side was made up solely of Cork and Kerry players with the other Munster counties boycotting the competition over the seeding of the provincial championship, while Connacht started with five Mayomen, four from Galway and two each from Roscommon and Leitrim.

From the outset, it was clear that the players on the field were not treating this game as a glorified exhibition match. The Munster side, which contained some serious firepower, burst out of the blocks and were 1-1 to no score up after just two minutes, Cork’s Brian Hurley palming in a well-worked goal.

Looking like they could be overrun, Connacht got a much needed point through Galway’s Paul Conroy in the seventh  minute, but there was little respite for the Westerners as Munster raced into a 1-4 to 0-1 lead in the 13th minute. The three Corkmen in Munster’s full-forward line, Daniel Goulding, Donncha O’Connor and Hurley were causing all sorts of problems for the Connacht defence and with the likes of Paul Kerrigan and Kerry’s Donnchadh Walsh in support, Munster were creating chances at will.

Connacht began to settle into the game midway through the first half with the Mayo duo, Aidan O’Shea and Jason Gibbons, beginning to win the midfield battle. With Emlyn Mulligan pulling the strings in attack, Connacht started to open up their opposition a bit more. Points from Mulligan and Cathal Cregg were matched by the left boot of Daniel Goulding though and Munster were able to maintain, and then extend, their lead.

Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune