Sports
St Bernard’s crowned kings of Galway football – at last
St Bernard’s 2
Mervue United 0
Mike Rafferty in Abbeyknockmoy
IT was fitting that the new Western Hygiene Supplies Premier Division champions should be crowned on their own patch in Abbeyknockmoy on Sunday and, in the process, see off one of the most decorated teams in the history of the local game.
Going into the contest, St Bernard’s needed just a point to clinch a first ever Brod Trill title and they did it in style as goals in each half by Tom Ford and Craig Kennedy ensured a happy ending not only for the players and management, but for those who made the trek up the hill to witness the occasion.
Now this success is not an overnight sensation as for many years the club has contended at the top end of the table, but for a variety of reasons they would slip off the pace as the pressure built in the closing weeks of the campaign.
This season was similar to previous ones – just that they stuck in there and with belief and ability to the fore, they maintained their challenge to the end. A huge 4-3 home win over leaders at the time, Corrib Rangers, at the end of January certainly gave them the belief that they could maintain their challenge.
While enjoying games in hand, they were always in the top four in the table and aided by goals by Adrian Roche and Craig Kennedy they reached the summit for the first time at the beginning of May – ironically, with a 2-0 away win over Mervue United in Fahy’s Field.
Thereafter, they held on to the top spot and while there was a blip against second placed Salthill Devon, they still maintained a cushion that was to see them through to Sunday’s finale.
The St Bernard’s performances in recent time had been somewhat nervous. That was certainly understandable as they closed in on history, but an early goal was the perfect start they needed on this occasion.
On just three minutes, Jason Finn swung in a deep corner and Tom Ford made it 1-0 with a strong far post header past Keith McHugh. Just like the previous week against Corrib Celtic, when they scored twice early on, it was just the start they needed.
Now inspiration comes from within and when captain Darren Finn dropped his family at the airport on Saturday and saw them off on holiday, while he postponed his departure for 24 hours in order to play, it spoke volumes for the man and his team. Allied to his outstanding leadership, he went close to scoring on a number of occasions – as just direction was an issue with a number of headers.
Now Mervue United’s Keith McHugh is a man of many parts and while mainly known as a central defender, he occasionally slots into a striking role and not for the first time, was manning the posts on this occasion. To say he made a remarkable impression is a total understatement as two of his saves in the opening half were just magnificent.
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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