Sports
Six of the best as Corrib Rangers go top
Corrib Rangers hit a weakened St Patrick’s for six at Laurel Park on Sunday morning as they moved three points clear at the top of the Premier Division.
Two up at the break, Corrib Rangers pulled away in the second half with Brian Connolly and David Goldbey both grabbing a brace as the visiting side struggled to gain any sort of forward momentum to run out 6-0 winners.
St Patrick’s certainly had their chances in the opening half with the woodwork denying them on two occasions, but that aside the home outfit were the dominant force and two goals in the opening quarter set them on their way.
The lead goal on 12 minutes was rather fortunate as a Connolly cross was deflected into his own net by Enda Heenaghan; and stand-in goalkeeper JJ Greaney could do little about the second either as Oscar Sibanda released Paul Smith to finish low past the unprotected custodian.
The Caherlistrane visitors deserved some reward in the closing stages of the half, as firstly Mike Ward struck the crossbar with a free-kick, while Rangers left-back Rob Keady threatened his own goal with a back header that went out for a corner off the butt of the post.
If the visitors had their moments in the opening half, just a Luke Donnellon header threatened in the second half, as Corrib Rangers dominated and made it 3-0 on 59 minutes. Keady and Sibanda did the spadework down the left, before Goldbey applied the close range finish. Goldbey then turned provider as he set up Connolly to fire the fourth low past Greaney.
Unchallenged at the back, Corrib Rangers were allowed to get forward at every opportunity and Jason Murphy, Martin O’Connell and Stephen Kirk all went close to adding to their tally. Finally, two goals in the closing four minutes saw Goldbey and Connolly double their accounts, as they scored unchallenged from in front of goal.
At the half-way stage of the season, Corrib Rangers now lie three points clear of second placed Mervue United, with both having played nine games.
In other Premier Division action, Hibernians can certainly get themselves into a title challenge as they have games in hand, and they displayed great character to come from 3-2 down in the closing stages to eventually win 5-3 against St Bernard’s.
Tuam Celtic did things the hard way when they initially lost a two goal advantage, before scoring a late winner as they caused somewhat of a shock when defeating NUI Galway 3-2 at Clonthue Road.
The home side led 2-0 at the break as Thomas Gleeson opened their account when he raced away to slot home in a one-on-one situation, before Daniel Burke added the second from the penalty spot after Manu was upended in the box. A late Mike Togher header secured a home victory and moved them into a more comfortable mid-table position.
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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