Sports
Sinnott pounces in 90th minute to grab fortunate draw for Galway FC
Sales of Optrex are thought to have risen dramatically in Galway on Saturday morning to wash-out the eyes of those who witnessed a dire performance from the home side in Eamonn Deacy Park the previous night, one which got the scarcely-deserved reward of a point courtesy of Paul Sinnott’s 90th minute equaliser.
Every team can have an off-night, but the home side’s display on Friday night was so far ‘off’, it stank the place out – no wonder manager Tommy Dunne kept his players in the dressing room for so long after the final whistle.
If there are any positives to be taken from the night, it is the fact that the home side kept battling and eventually snatched a point to stretch their unbeaten run to six games; while they also made up a point on second-placed Wexford Youths, who lost at home to Waterford United, and stayed nine points behind league leaders Shelbourne, who were held to a scoreless draw at home to Shamrock Rovers B.
That’s taking optimism to new levels, however – as one supporter said after the game, he has gone home disappointed on a couple of occasions this season after home games, but Friday night was the first time he went home disgusted.
Galway were expected to win Friday’s game, especially given Dunne’s recent comments about turning displays into results. Those expectation levels rose when the visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 31st minute when full-back Caoimhin Bonner was shown a straight red card for a sliding tackle on Jake Keegan.
It was a tackle worthy of a booking, but the red looked a little harsh. Still, when you get a break like that, you have to make the most of it, so the fact the home side didn’t capitalise was yet another disappointing aspect of Friday night’s game.
At 865 people, it was one of the lowest attendances for a league game this season and for them it was a night of endurance rather than enjoyment. It is easy enough to put your finger on where it went wrong – the visitors appeared to want it more. The home side were guilty of woeful passing and over-hit crosses; of poor decision-making and a lack of commitment in the tackle; of a lack of imagination and leadership.
The match officials didn’t help the cause, with Tipperary referee Eoghan O’Shea blowing for a mind-boggling 33 free-kicks, but to blame the officials for the home side’s performance would be stretching things.
Dunne made three changes to the side which drew with Shamrock Rovers B the previous weekend, two of which were enforced. Stephen Walsh was suspended and Jason Molloy out injured, while Dunne also opted to drop the underperforming Vinny Faherty.
Into the side came Derek O’Brien and Marty Owens out wide, while Jake Keegan led the line up front, with Ryan Manning playing just behind him in the position Dunne has previously admitted is the teenager’s best.
It was a role for Manning that the fans have been crying out for, but with so many players putting in such poor displays, it didn’t pay the expected dividend. Owens was anonymous on the right wing, and while O’Brien saw plenty of ball on the opposite side, his crosses, particularly in the second-half, were constantly over-hit, which just ratcheted up the frustration both on and off the pitch.
For a full match report please see this week’s Sentinel
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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