Sports
Cortoon make their class pay against injury-hit rivals
Cortoon Shamrocks 2-11
Mícheál Breathnach 1-5
A dominant second half performance was enough for Cortoon Shamrocks to book their place in the semi-finals of this year’s Galway senior football championship, but they’ll have to improve significantly if they want to go a step further and reach the final.
Paul Bradley’s side ran out nine point winners in the end, but they were made to struggle for large parts against an understrength Mícheál Breathnach side which fielded without essentially the spine of their team.
Their three intercounty players, Seán Denvir, Peadar Óg Ó Gríofa and Fiontán Ó Curraoin, were all missing through injury and they were joined in absentia by the likes of Diarmaid Malone, Tommy Conneely and Pádraig Mac Giolla Bhríde, all of whom would have been strong contenders to start the game.
With that in mind, Mícheál Breathnach deserve praise for stifling Cortoon for so long. The North Galway side had the vast majority of possession but they found it extremely difficult, in the first half in particular, to break down the massed ranks of defenders. The shut-out could only last so long, however, and when Cortoon were finally able to edge ahead midway through the second half, their opponents had no answer.
Cortoon were playing into a stiff breeze in the first half and between the elements and the stout opposition they faced, they were often content to work the ball across the field patiently until a scoring chance arrived. The opening score arrived in the seventh minute thanks to a precise effort from Cathal Mulryan from a narrow angle, giving the first signal of what was to be a sterling performance from the forward.
Mícheál Breathnach weren’t behind for long and defender Barry Ó Conghaile got their first score of the afternoon from the left-wing. They were soon ahead as well when Ó Conghaile and Cian Ó Gríofa combined to set-up Pete Ó Cionnaith, the corner-forward shooting successfully on the turn, 40m from goal.
The Mícheál Breathnach rearguard came perilously close to being breached in the tenth minute when a slick move involving Cathal Mulryan, Adrian Varley and Shane Gleeson saw Joseph Donnellan breakthrough, but his shot across goal cannoned off the underside of the crossbar. Cortoon did get some change out of the move, however, as Martin Boyle was on hand to eventually slot over the rebound.
Cortoon’s patient approach was again on display in the 16th minute when a move, which went back and across their opponents’ 45m line multiple times and must have involved two dozen passes, ended with Donnellan again breaking through the lines and putting his side a point ahead, 0-3 to 0-2. A Joe Conroy point levelled the scores in the 20th minute before Cortoon once more came within inches of a goal.
Full coverage 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.
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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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