Galway League through to last four of FAI Youth Inter League

Date Published: 11-Mar-2013

Galway League 4

AUL 1

The Galway League did all their best work in the opening half as a four-goal blast in the second quarter killed-off the visitors challenge at Eamonn Deacy Park on Saturday afternoon as the Tribesmen qualified for the semi-finals of the FAI Youth Inter League Trophy.

In a contest that seldom rose to any great heights, the game appeared to balance on the finishing ability of the respective strikers and in this regard the home side came up trumps.

A hat-trick by Padraig Cunningham was added to by Conor Barry as the deadly duo tore the visitors apart in that rampant 16 minute spell, while the AUL front two were certainly impressive performers, but got less space to operate in.

Not taking away from Galway’s finishing ability, but their cause was hugely helped by an inept visitors’ back four who were torn apart at regular intervals, while in contrast the home rearguard were solid and dependable as they worked better as a unit.

The early exchanges saw the visitors at their most threatening as Lee Boggans tested Peter Healy, while just a poor touch by Carl Grant denied him a clear opportunity 10 yards out.

Barry touched a Dillon Murphy cross just wide of the target on six minutes, but little was seen of Galway in attack until they broke the deadlock on 24 minutes.

As Eoin Walsh delivered from the left, Cunningham rose to back flip and with just maybe the faintest of touches his movement distracted ‘keeper Somerfield as he never moved as the ball dropped inside the far post for a 1-0 advantage.

Fed by Ross Howard and Conor Ryan, Boggans and Grant continued to pose a threat for the AUL and both went close to levelling matters without ever extending Healy.

If ever there was such a thing as the perfect tackle it was executed by Paul Healy on 32 minutes. As Boggans would up to shoot from about 10 yards, the central defender slid in his right foot to take a sitter off his toes with the cleanest of contacts.

Quickly the action reverted to the other end as the home side produced three goals in six minutes.

A Diarmuid Fadden free-kick on 34 minutes picked-out Richard Fahy at the far post, and his knock-down was easily swept home by the unmarked Cunningham from close range.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.