6/16/2024 - Senior Championship - Connemara Gaels vs Galway Boston

 

By Neil McEnaney

 

Full Time Score:

Connemara Gaels: 3-7

Galway Boston: 4-15

 

Galway came into this game with an impressive win over the Macs while the Gaels had secured a draw against Donegal in both teams previous outings. The lively Conor Lawlor led the way up front for Galway and was at times unmarkable.

 

Connemara raced to a two point lead after some patient play while they waited for their openings. A high tackle on a Galway defender caused a 5 minute delay as he was treated for concussion protocol.

 

When the game restarted, Galway forced a free for overcarrying and Paul Carey scored the resulting free. A strong run down the line by Adam Waddick set up Jack Lundy for a goal chance that was well saved by James Egan, but he could only palm it into the path of Waddick who palmed it into the open net for the games first goal.

 

Lawlor started causing problems for Gaels defence, winning the ball out wide before taking his man on finishing with a nice point. A period of play with both defenses on top ensued before Paul Carey broke the deadlock with a goal. Lawlor found Carey inside the 21 who took on his man before his close range shot dribbled past the goalkeeper.

 

Galway’s second goal was similar to the first, this time Lawlor getting in behind the defense. A great save by O’Flaherty dropped back to Lawlor who tapped it in.

 

A strong run down the line by Kerry man Stefan Okunbar resulted in a free which Oran Cunningham kicked over easily. Right on the stroke of half time, some good play from Galway left Eoin Colleran with a great chance from close range and he made no mistake blasting it past the keeper.

 

Half Time Score:

Connemara Gaels: 1-4

Galway Boston: 3-4

 

Gaels started the second half brightly with Jack Lundy kicking a great score with the outside of his right boot. Daire Keenan responded with a nice point off his right on the loop followed by a long range free by Carey. Galway continued to add on the points, hitting Connemara on the break when they got the turnovers.  

 

A great switch of play by Connemara found Waddick in space on the right wing, who took his chance and scored a great point from a tight angle. Lawlor responded almost immediately for Galway with a well taken point aftyer he found half a yard of space.

 

With 15 minutes to go, Galway were up by 9 points. A foul on a Galway defender was followed by a bit of afters, which resulted in a red card for Mark Nolan for the Gaels.

 

The pass of the day came from Jack Lundy of the Gaels who crossed it soccer style to Oran Cunningham who rounded the keeper before burying it into the net. Any thoughts of a late Gaels comeback though were quickly put to bed with Galway responding immediately with Eoin Colleran finishing neatly into the bottom left corner of the Gaels net.

 

Galway finished the game strongly kicking some nice points when the chances arose. A late penalty for the Gaels for a foot block was expertly converted by Jack Lundy into the bottom corner.

 

Man of the Match: Conor Lawlor

 

Teams and Scorers:

Connemara Gaels: Bryan O’Flaherty, Sean Kennedy, Zach Mahon, Jack Lynch, Colman Mulkerrin, Jack Lundy (1-2), Adam Waddick (1-1), Stefan Okunbor, Ryan Fadden (0-1), Oran Cunningham (1-1), Mark Nolan (0-1), Dylan Murtagh, Ross Keogh

 

Galway Boston: James Egan, Tom Crean, Ciaran Potter, Aidan Flanagan, Stephen White, Paudi Behan, Michael Moylan, Declan Doyle, Maidhc MacGearaillt (0-1), Daire Keenan (0-1), Eoin Colleran (2-3), Conor Lawlor (1-4), Paul Carey (1-6)

Subs: Gary Higgins (0-1)

 

Referee: Neil McEnaney