Makeshift Galway footballers survive late scare against Leitrim

Galway footballers earned a place in this year’s FBD League final with a 0-13 to 1-9 win over Leitrim in Mohill on Sunday.

This was a very special day for the Mohill club with their ground being officially renamed the Philly McGuinness Memorial Park in memory of a player who died after being critically injured in a football match back in April 2010.

Leitrim might have a small population, but a smashing crowd – estimated to be in the region of 1,400 – turned out for this match as the home side put their FBD title on the line and they came perilously close to taking the points against an under-strength Galway side.

A combination of necessity and experimentation meant that Galway manager Kevin Walsh made 12 changes from the team that easily defeated Sligo a week previously in Enniscrone, but this is the time of year to look at players who might just spark later on in the year.

Early on, both defences looked a big creaky with goal chances on either side but through the first half Galway found scores just that bit easier to come by, with Patrick Sweeney, Johnny Heaney, Shane Walsh (3), Gary O’Donnell (2), Martin Coady (Oughterard) and Óisín O’Brien helping Galway to a 0-9 to 0-4 interval lead.

Leitrim though had looked snipey enough in front of goal with corner men Alan McLoughlin and Kevin Conlon proving to be their main scoring dangers, as they played into the first half diagonal breeze.

McLoughlin’s probes did yield a very tangible reward 18 minutes into the second half when the Galway defence failed to deal with a route one ball straight down the spout of their defence, and the corner forward finished neatly to the net from 10 yards out.

That score brought Leitrim back into real contention as they now trailed by only two points – 0-12 to 1-7 – with the home crowd in full voice as they scented a prized home success.

Galway though steadied the ship with Johnny Heaney, Gary O’Donnell, Garreth Bradshaw, Fiontán Ó Curraoin, Shane Walsh and Martin Coady finishing strongly as Leitrim pressed for late scores.

Galway play their final group game in Moycullen on Sunday when they face GMIT, though with two wins from two games, they cannot be prevented from wining the group.

In the other group, NUI Galway, Roscommon and Mayo all have a chance of winning the group going into this weekend’s fixtures, although Mayo are in the driving seat with two wins from two. If they avoid defeat to Roscommon this weekend, they will advance to a final showdown with Galway. NUI Galway face IT Sligo in the other game in that group.