Sports
Kiltullagh back in the groove after surprise win over Bohemians
WHEN Kiltullagh’s nine match unbeaten league run in the Second Division came to an end two weeks ago, their chances of promotion more or less disappeared as five of those games had ended as draws. However, they quickly put that defeat against leaders West Coast United behind them and, on Sunday last in Miller’s Lane, produced a big surprise when inflicting a 3-1 defeat on joint second placed Bohemians.
It was an occasion when the visitors always had an edge and they led at the break, courtesy of a Noel Kelly free kick that took a deflection off the defensive wall.
The city side were enjoying plenty of possession, but struggled in the last third of the park and although Sean Guinan missed a great opportunity to level matters, it was one of the few occasions when they got a clear sight of the visitors goal.
Kiltullagh were not as shy in the box and second half efforts by Kelly and Adrian Meskala extended their advantage, with just central defender Daniel Feeney striding forward to pull one back for the home side.
Bohemians loss has allowed Renmore to move into second position and they had to do it the hard way, when they came from behind to defeat West United B by 3-2. Dara Hynes, Coley Kelly and Lorcan Fox were all on the mark for the home side, with Sean Lydon responding with a brace in each half for the visitors.
Byrne Cup
Recent weeks have seen an upturn in the fortunes of St. Bernard’s and, on Sunday last, they registered a 2-0 home win over neighbours Athenry in the Michael Byrne Cup.
Jason Finn gave them the perfect start with a long range effort after just two minutes and the winger doubled his account on the half hour mark when Adrian Roche laid the foundation with a run from inside his own half. The home side had to sustain some late Athenry pressure, but goalkeeper Denis Farragher did all that was expected of him with some fine shot stopping.
Corrib Celtic had to come from behind at the break to see off Corofin United by 3-2, with goals by Shane Concannon, Chris Greaney and Laurence Forde, while Eamonn O’Donnell notched a second half winner for ten-man Knocknacarra as they shocked Premier Division Tuam Celtic by 1-0.
For the second week in succession, Mervue United were dumped out of a major cup on penalties as they lost by 5-4 against West United, after their contest finished level at 3-3 following extra time in South Park. Ollie Rafferty, Geoffrey Power and James Ryan were all on the mark for the home side, with Aaron Finnerty, Barry Moran and Alex Lee responding for the visitors.
In an all Premier clash, Corrib Rangers always had the edge as they saw off Hibernians by 4-2 in Bohermore. Brian Connolly (two), David Goldbey and Ger Bane all found the range for the Westside outfit, with Denis Lydon and Mixer Devanney responding for a disappointing home side.
Two games saw no action at all, as Salthill Devon got a walk over from Dynamo Blues, while Mervue United B and NUI Galway will have to do it all over again. Both sides turned up for their joust last Saturday, but the match official refused to play the game as both teams were togged out in the same colour socks . . . yes socks!
For more, read this week’s Galway City 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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