Goal feast as Galway boys coast to victory in replay

GALWAY 4-12

SLIGO 1-8

GALWAY minor footballers continue to present an enigmatic streak in this year’s championship, cutting quite a dash on occasion while at other times looking vulnerable, but they have bridged a seven year gap by landing the county’s 25th provincial title in this grade.

There was atmosphere aplenty at Tuam Stadium on Friday evening with close on 4,000 people turning out for this Connacht final replay and while overall Galway proved themelves to be a far superior force, Sligo – during different phases of the first half – did present quite a few problems.

No one can question the potential in this Galway side, with a seam of very talented footballers in different areas of the pitch, but there’s quite a deal of tidying up to be done too, mostly in terms of needless possession giveaways and in taking the right option when chances present themselves.

Galway had half a dozen wides on the stats list and were two points down before their attacking engine cranked into action – at last everything seemed to be going to plan for them by the 14th minute when they forged into a 0-5 0-2 lead, thanks to well taken scores from Paudie McCormack (2), Cillian McDaid, John Daly and Sean Kelly.

Sligo though had other ideas. Just at the midway point of the half, they hit back with something of a sucker punch goal. Galway corner back Ian Kent was slightly unfortunate to slip in possession and as he tried to avoid the free for over-carrying his intended pass to a colleague was intercepted by Cathal Herron who goaled from close range.

That score did rock Galway, and a couple of minutes later they could have conceded a second when Patrick O’Connor’s deflected shot spun just inches wide of Ronan Ó Beolain’s right hand post. At that point, Sligo had Galway rattled but in fairness the response was positive from Stephen Joyce’s charges.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.