Sports
Headford’s 17-year wait ends
Headford 0-11
Caherlistrane 0-09
David Killarney at Tuam Stadium
Headford completed a magnificent second-half comeback against Caherlistrane on Sunday to claim their first U-21 title since 1998. Man-of-the-match Padraig Cunningham (0-4) was in inspired form for Headford as they overturned a four point half time deficit to come out victorious in Tuam Stadium.
It was Caherlistrane who started the game brighter with a point coming from corner forward Conor Faulkner after Eoin O’Mahoney was taken down 25 yards out. Moments later it was level after Niall Cunningham found a galloping Aaron McDonagh running into space before the wing forward made himself an angle to fire over a left foot shot from 30 yards.
On six minutes Faulkner hit back with another free for Caherlistrane after captain Shane Nally was taken down by corner-back Kristopher Cunningham. Headford levelled through Niall Cunningham with a free 45 yards out after McDonagh was dragged down by Cian Darcy after another mazing run.
For all Headford’s dominance in around the middle of the field through captain Michael Day and centre back Dylan Corbett it was Caherlistrane who were making the most of their chances, Faulkner taking advantage of an indisciplined Headford backline to stroke over three unanswered points and give his side some breathing space.
With the game turning a bit fiery it was Headford’s Cathal Newell who got the next score coming from another free after McDonagh was taken down again. With minutes remaining in the first half, Nally found Faulkner who made no mistake 45 yards out for a great score to put Caherlistrane ahead by three once more.
Faulkner capped off an inspiring first half performance with his and his side’s seventh point from another free. Full-back Darren Moran was shown a yellow card by referee Noel Dempsey for a cynical challenge on midfielder Kevin Nally as he was bearing down on goal.
Caherlistrane took a four point lead into the break after taking advantage of a strong wind in the first half. Headford would look to take advantage of this, having not benefited from facing the town end in the first.
Headford came out for the second half the way they would have liked and got the scoring back underway through Padraig Cunningham who turned his man and struck straight between the posts. They got a second in as many minutes as Cunningham found McDonagh in acres of space before firing over on 34 minutes.
Faulkner, who hit all of his side’s points for the afternoon, got another point from a free after he was taken down near the left touchline for a great score. Cunningham hit back for Headford to bring it within two with another free after being brought down 20 yards from goal.
It was all Headford at this stage and the scoreboard was about to show it. Some great play in midfield from Day and Newell found wing forward Stephen Monaghan who made no mistake to put them within one.
For more, read 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
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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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