Galway U-21s just fall short in Connacht final thriller

Roscommon 3-14

Galway 3-11

WHILE the entertainment value of modern football has be called into question recently, this year’s Connacht U21 Final certainly showcased that the sport is not dead yet. As is often the case at this grade, the game was laced with attacking, fast-paced football as the pure talent of the players on show came to the fore.

Whether the excitement of U21 football stems from the naivity of youth or managers who place as much importance on developing players as on actual results, the grade continues to show that the sport can still produce some fantastic spectacles, even in its current format.

When asked was it any consolation to have been involved in such as fantastic match, defeated Galway manager Alan Flynn had mixed feelings. “It’s all about the winning really but I suppose there is a bit. I said to the players, I know I couldn’t have asked anymore of them really. They were really grinding it out and they played some tremendous football. In fact both teams did.”

With a healthy crowd of nearly 5,000, it was clear that not everyone has been turned off football yet and they were rewarded as the game got off to a fast start with three points in the opening two minutes, two for Roscommon and one for the home side.

Ultan Harney was prominent in the early stages and he slotted his second point in the 6th minute to put Roscommon 0-3 to 0-1 ahead but Galway hit back soon after with what would be the first of the contest’s six goals.

Damien Comer has been in fantastic form in recent weeks and it was he who bagged his side’s first major when, after claiming a long ball in from Enda Tierney, Comer rifled a right-footed shot past Shane Mannion in the Roscommon goal.

Both sides exchanges points in the following ten minutes before Galway increased their lead with another goal. Midfielder Michael Day had already won a number of clean catches for the home side and he again rose highest to claim Tadhg Ó Maille’s kickout before laying the ball off to Johnny Heaney, who in turn found Tierney rushing in on goal and the Oughterard attacker stepped past the Roscommon goalkeeper before finishing into the net.

Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune