Sports
Galway minors retain title for the first time in a decade
GALWAY 1-9
MAYO 0-6
A Desmond Conneely 45th minute goal not only saw Galway retain their Connacht minor crown with victory over Mayo at Pearse Stadium on Sunday but also secured the Tribesmen their first back-to-back provincial title wins at this grade in over a decade.
It’s hard to believe that when Galway claimed the three-in-a-row of Connacht minor titles between 2003 and 2005 they would only win one more – 2007 when Alan Mulholland’s young charges subsequently went on to win the All-Ireland – in the ensuing decade.
That was, of course, until Clonbur’s Stephen Joyce worked the oracle with victories over Mayo and Sligo – after a replay – last year to bring home the silverware and get Galway GAA back on track at this grade.
That good work continued at Pearse Stadium on Sunday when Joyce and his management team masterminded the defence of that crown – and a 27th Connacht minor title for the county – with an empathic victory over old rivals Mayo.
From pillar to post, Galway led this one and when Conneely struck for a magnificent goal on the three-quarter mark, following great industry from Ernán McDonagh and Robert Finnerty, the issue was never in doubt.
So, it proved, with Galway continuing to hold the upperhand, outscoring Mayo five points to four in the closing stage. Indeed, two of those Mayo points did not come until injury-time, at which point Galway eyes and minds were already wandering up the steps of the main stand and towards the lifting of the Kilcoyne Cup.
The victory was no more than Galway deserved given they had set the tone from the off. Unanswered points from Conneely – play and free – and Finnerty (free) saw Galway take the lead in the opening quarter and it could have been more had a Finian Ó Laoi goal chance not going abegging on 15 minutes.
While a wind-assisted Galway had carried the greater attacking threat, the big concern was that they were unable to translate this into further scores and in the second quarter they only managed one point. That came from the impressive Evan Murphy after a barnstorming run on 21 minutes.
Alarmingly for the home side, Mayo, despite playing against the wind, began to grow more and more into the game thereafter although it was incredible, even allowing for the weather conditions, that the visitors did not raise a flag until Oisin McLaughlin found the mark on the 24th minute.
It was a sweet move involving a plethora of players and, now in their stride, Mayo could have struck the fixture’s first goal a minute later when impressive midfielder Colm Murphy, Colm Moran, John Maughan – son of the former Mayo manager – and McLaughlin set up Ryan O’Donoghue for the effort. However, his shot blazed into the side netting much to the relief of Galway.
It was a setback for Mayo but not as big as the loss of Murphy to a knee injury on 27 minutes. Murphy had been hugely prominent in the opening half, winning a brace of kick-outs at both ends in addition to a couple of frees.
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.
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.
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