Galway League claim FAI title for first time

Date Published: {J}

Galway League 3

Wicklow League 1

Mike Rafferty

The long final whistle at Drom on Sunday brought scenes of joy and hysteria as the Galway Youth side put some horrible memories of recent years behind them to annex the Umbro FAI Youth Inter League title for the first time in their history.

In a wind assisted opening half, goals by Pat Hoban and Mike Elwood gave them a merited advantage at the interval, and while matters were much more competitive on the resumption, a series of outstanding saves by goalkeeper Ronan Forde kept the visitors at bay and in the latter stages the clinching third goal eventually arrived courtesy of a close range Conor Murray finish.

Galway had five players involved when Mervue United and Salthill Devon met the previous night at Terryland Park in an Airtricity First Division clash and it is incredulous to think that they were selected for their clubs and made to line out less than 24 hours before such a national final.

However all’s well that ends well and such was the performance of the home side it is possible that they could have played all night and still have energy left over.

Galway certainly played well and laid the foundation for the win with a good opening half, but they certainly put the crowd and management on tender hooks in the second half as a series of guilt edge opportunities were spurned.

Wicklow were an impressive outfit and in an amazing statistic, the vast majority of the players were from Arklow Town who seem to dominate the game in the area and to their credit really put it up to the home side in the second half.

The home side had the advantage of the elements in the opening half. The management made a huge call before the start as Conor Murray, who had being an ever present throughout the campaign, was left out and Daryl Horgan, who had missed the semi final win through injury recalled on the right flank.

The home side made an encouraging start and after Brian Gaffney had a shot blocked, Hoban fired the rebound over in just the first minute. However the breakthrough wasn’t long in coming as Galway took the lead on three minutes.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.