Sports
Galway FC edge closer to promotion
Galway FC are just 90 minutes away from promotion to the Premier Division after a stunning last-gasp 2-1 win over UCD in the Belfield Bowl on Monday night.
Trailing to a Timmy Murphy goal with a minute remaining, Tommy Dunne’s side scored twice in the space of 60 seconds to take a firm grip on the play-off, and justify their tag as favourites for promotion.
While the visitors were installed as clear favourites, there is a big step-up in class from the First Division to the Premier, no matter how poorly the top-flight side has fared over the season, and that was clear in the first-half of Monday’s game.
While Galway FC bossed the majority of the game against Shelbourne in Tolka Park on Friday night, they had to play second fiddle for most of the opening 45 minutes in Belfield. The Tribesmen side were on the backfoot from the start, and while they came more into the game as the half wore on, it was UCD who looked more threatening in front of goal.
The visitors struggled to get out of their own final third of the pitch for the first 10 minutes, but Conor Gleeson was never tested and it was Galway FC who carved out the first chance, Ryan Connolly delivering a free-kick to the back post which was met by Gary Shanahan, but his diving header was well off target.
The winger did go closer two minutes later when a fine move down the Galway left flank resulted in Ryan Manning rolling a ball in behind the defence for Jake Keegan, who drilled a ball to the near post, but Ian Ryan got in ahead of Shanahan to concede a corner.
The home side opened the scoring in the 18th minute with what was their first shot on target, and it came from a defensive error by Galway FC. Conor O’Donnell punted a goalkick towards the left flank, and Mark Langtry just beat Colm Horgan to the ball.
Paddy Barrett was covering and appeared to have matters under control, but a slip allowed Gary Burke to nip in and win possession. He played the ball back to the angle of the box for Timmy Molloy, and the Galway native sent a daisy-cutter past Gleeson and inside the far post.
O’Donnell was quick off his line to deny Shanahan three minutes later, but UCD continued to pose the bigger threat, and it took a flying save from Gleeson to prevent them from doubling their lead after Conor Cannon turned on a sixpence and let fly from 15 yards.
Paul Sinnott and Keegan both had efforts from distance, but neither packed any power and O’Donnell gathered comfortably, with a flurry of bookings late in the half the only real incidents of note as the half-time whistle approached.
Whatever assistant manager Leo Tierney said in the visitors dressing room had the desired effect, as Galway FC were a transformed side in the second half and, if UCD had bossed the opening 45 minutes, then the second period certainly belonged to the visitors.
They completely outplayed their hosts, with Manning twice going close in the first five minutes, with the home side relying on trying to catch Galway FC on the break as they struggled to get out of their own half.
Galway FC had won in the FAI Cup here earlier in the season, but while they dominated the second half, they were struggling to turn possession into real chances, although as the half wore on, the UCD goal came more and more under threat.
Manning was denied by O’Donnell in the 76th minute, and when the resulting corner was whipped in, the ‘keeper managed to claw Gary Shanahan’s header onto the crossbar.
Barrett spilt the UCD defence with a perfectly-weighted ball for Jake Keegan in the 83rd minute, but when the American striker skied his effort with only O’Donnell to beat, it looked like the visitors would have nothing to show for their efforts.
But then came that frantic, stunning final few minutes. They pulled level in the 89th minute when Marc Ludden launched a trademark long throw into the UCD penalty area. Barrett beat O’Donnell in the air to head goalwards, and while Ian Ryan hooked the ball clear on the line, the assistant referee flagged to indicate the ball had crossed the line.
The Galway FC fans were still celebrating when their side took the lead just 60 seconds later. Connolly fizzed in a corner from the left which UCD failed to clear, and Manning claimed possession with his right foot before firing home in a crowded penalty area with his left to snatch the winner.
UCD were on the ropes, and Galway FC could have added a third two minutes into injury time but O’Donnell saved smartly from Shanahan. However it is the First Division side who are now firm favourites to cap a brilliant debut season by claiming promotion when they host the Student sin the second leg in Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night (7.45pm).
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.
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.
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.
Families queue up for school’s offer of free house
West has lower cancer survival rates than rest
Galway minors continue to lay waste to all opponents
Gardaí and IFA issue a joint appeal on summer road safety
Marathon Man plans to call a halt – but not before he hits 160 races
