Sports
Mannion is the star turn as Moycullen march into final
Moycullen 1-15
Ahascragh-Fohenagh 1-10
Pádraic Ó Ciardha At Kenny Park
WITH a personal tally of 1-9, full-forward Niall Mannion was the star for Moycullen as they booked their place in this year’s Intermediate county final with a well-deserved win against Ahascragh-Fohenagh last Saturday.
While much of the pre-game attention might have focused on his namesakes for the opposition, inter-county players Cathal and Padraic, it was Moycullen’s Mannion who impressed the most, getting the scores to build his side’s early lead and then tagging on points any time Ahascragh-Fohenagh looked like clawing their way back into the match.
Moycullen were not solely reliant on their full-forward, however, with the spine of their team in particular producing commanding displays. Mark Lydon and Matthew Donoghue solidified the defence while Eanna Noone added industry and skill at midfield, chipping in with 0-3, including two superb sideline cuts. Special mention must also go to goalkeeper Eric Fox, whose crucial intervention ten minutes from time put paid to an Ahascragh-Fohenagh comeback.
The east Galway side had brought the deficit back to three points, 1-8 to 1-11, at that stage thanks to a fortuitous goal, when Padraic Mannion was sent through one-on-one with Fox. The goalkeeper rushed off his line, forcing Mannion, who was probably his side’s most consistent threat from play, to shoot sooner than he wanted to and the Moycullen netminder managed to get his body in the way of the shot.
Though Kevin Gavin did put the rebound over the bar, it proved to be a decisive moment as Moycullen soon tagged on another few scores to cement their lead once again.
Much of the groundwork for their victory had been laid in the opening ten minutes, after which Moycullen found themselves 1-5 to 0-2 ahead. Eanna Noone opened the scoring with a sideline cut from the left-wing and while Padraic Mannion quickly replied, Moycullen soon went on a scoring burst that would provide them with a cushion for most of the game.
Philip Lydon put them ahead before Niall Mannion grabbed a crucial goal in the fourth minute after a strong run down the right-hand side. Seamus Conneely and Mannion again pointed to extend the lead further and Moycullen’s dominance was capped by another superb sideline cut from Eanna Noone, from a narrow angle on the left-hand touchline.
Ahascragh-Fohenagh’s sole response during this period was a Cathal Mannion free but they did settle more into the contest after their poor start. Two quick points from Mannion and Mark Kelly brought Ahascragh-Fohenagh back into contention, but Moycullen always seemed to be able to put scores on the board when they needed to.
This ability proved to be the difference between the sides. While the likes of Padraic Mannion, Mark Kelly and Stephen Smyth all put in solid shifts, scores never came easily to Ahascragh-Fohenagh, evidenced by the fact Cathal Mannion failed to score from play and rarely even got the opportunity to shoot from his deep midfield role.
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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