Lively Galway hit the ground running in defeating Rossies

Galway 2-13

Roscommon 2-9

A strong start and a solid first-half, where clinical shooting was the hallmark, ensured Galway claimed the first ever Connacht U17 football title, and their fourth provincial crown on the trot at the minor grade.

They allowed standards to dip in the second half at Dr Hyde Park last Friday evening, and a late Roscommon goal put some respectability on the scoreboard for the home team, but Galway were full value for this four-points victory.

Both Connacht finalists had already qualified for an All-Ireland quarter-final to be played on the weekend of July 28/29 – the prize for winning is a clash with Clare and, more importantly, avoiding Munster kingpins and All-Ireland favourites Kerry in the last eight round of matches.

There are plenty of areas for improvement before Galway embarks on the All-Ireland series but captain Conor Raftery and company can take huge satisfaction from the manner in which they put the Rossies to the sword.

Man-of-the-match Matthew Cooley was unmarkable, kicking five points from play at corner-forward to maintain the Tribesmen’s 100% unbeaten record in this championship season. In a four-point win, the Corofin man’s contribution truly was the difference on a day when both defences were under pressure.

The opening quarter of the game summed it up. Galway was alert, hardworking and capitalised on the four chances they created with Cooley, Ryan Monaghan (two frees) and Daniel Cox all splitting the posts giving them a 0-4 to no score lead.

By the 15th minute, when Ruaidhrí Fallon opened Roscommon’s account, the Rossies had been enjoying their fair share of possession but were wasteful in front of the posts. During that period, Paul Staunton’s men hit the post twice and registered three wides.

Roscommon doubled their tally from the restart when Shane Cunnane’s aerial prowess was integral to setting up his midfield partner Enda Crawley for his side’s second score of the day but Galway soon re-established their dominance where it mattered most: on the scoreboard.

Decent build-up play by Cox and centre forward Aidan Halloran led to Galway’s first goal; the Salthill/Knocknacarra man went on an enterprising run deep into the Roscommon danger area before unselfishly squaring the ball across to his clubmate Eoghan Tinney who made no mistake in the 17th minute.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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