Sports
Rangers stay in the driving seat thanks to easy victory
JUST five of the 19 games down for decision at Junior level survived over the weekend as the elements continue to take its toll on the fixture list.
Westside hosted the only game in the Premier Division as leaders Corrib Rangers stretched their advantage at the top of the table with a comfortable success over Hibernians.
With First Division leaders West United not in action, the chasing pack closed the gap as just two games survived in this division, while table toppers Hibernians B maintained their winning sequence in the Third Division with a success over Ramblers.
Premier League
Corrib Rangers 3
Hibernians 0
After losing their unbeaten record in their previous outing when going down to St Bernard’s, this contest was a real challenge for Brendan O’Connor’s charges as they faced a Hibernians side who were on the periphery of the title race.
In response, Rangers were the dominant force for the majority of the action, but it was really only in the second half that they pulled away as two strikes ended the visitors challenge.
The Hibernians of recent years have really struggled to pose a challenge for trophies and on this occasion, minus the injured Joe Woods, Ronan Caldwell, Gary Kelly and Shane Hulgraine, their threadbare selection struggled to make a serious impact on the game.
In contrast, Corrib Rangers included new signing Derek O’Brien and the former Galway United performer displayed all the ability of old, with twists and turns, good deliveries and some errant finishing as well. Playing wide on the left, he gave right full Eoghan O’Regan a real baptism of fire.
The home side were in the ascendancy from the early exchanges and took the lead on 24 minutes with a splendid goal by Brian Connolly as the winger displayed a fine touch to control an Eric Browne long range free kick and his finish gave John Cotter no chance for a 1-0 lead.
The visitors should have levelled matters on the half hour mark when a strong Niall Whelan run to the by line set up the supporting Damien Carrick, but the midfielder could only direct a weak effort at the diving Conor Sweeney.
Rangers threatened to increase the margin before the break as Kevin Fitzpatrick and David Smith tested Cotter with shots, while the goalkeeper also excelled when advancing to deny Connolly in a one on one situation.
The resumption saw Danny McDonagh test Sweeney with a long range effort, but that was almost a highlight for the Boheremore outfit as the home side through Ronan Sweeney and John O’Brien controlled the second half.
Rangers were creating little of note until they were given a generous hand by Cotter as they made it 2-0 on 60 minutes. Firstly, the custodian was slow to clear a back pass that was half blocked by David Smith. The striker then picked up the loose ball and fired under the goalkeeper as his weak effort eventually ended up in the net.
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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