Green flags from Lydon and Fahy see St James’ through

St James’ 2-9

Micheál Breathnach 0-12

WHEN these two sides met at the same stage in 2014, it was the men of Micheál Breathnach who surprisingly booked their passage through to the quarter-finals thanks to a three point win but it was St James’ who this time came through by the same margin last Sunday. While it wasn’t a contest that will live long in the memory, it won’t matter much to the city side as they progressed.

St James’ controlled much of the opening 30 minutes of play yet found themselves only two points ahead at the break, 0-7 to 0-5, and while Micheál Breathnach actually managed more scores in the second half, seven to four, crucially the first two flags that James’ raised in that final half an hour were green.

While there was a hint of fortune about both Neil Lydon and Mike Fahy’s goals, they were finished well and with Micheál Breathnach squandering their own chances on goal in the first half, they proved to be crucial.

It was Terry O’Regan’s side that made much the better start to the game and St James’ were 0-4 to 0-0 ahead after the opening ten minutes. Paul Conroy got them off the mark with a free in the third minute before Conroy, Eoghan O’Regan and Fintan Cooney all combined well a minute later to set up wingback Cathal O’Regan to send over a neat score.

St James’ had their third point of the afternoon soon after when Eoin Concannon hit the target from close range. The same man was then on the end of a swift counter-attack in the 10th minute, playing a one-two with Eoghan O’Regan before popping the ball over the bar.

Micheál Breathnach were sluggish up to this point but things could have been a lot brighter for them had they taken one or two of the chances that came their way in those opening stages. Seán Denvir forced a smart save from David Curran in the sixth minute before corner backs Cian Griallais and Caoimhín Malone squandered a decent opening a minute later, with Joe Conroy also having a goalbound shot blocked by Aaron Connolly.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.