Senior Football Q/F: Galway Get Past Christopher's

Galway 0-14 Christopher’s 1-8

Galway booked a place in the senior football semi-final next week against Donegal.  A good passing display of football from Galway, who looked the hungrier of the two teams, saw the tribesmen through against a Christopher’s side that looked surprisingly flat throughout.

Galway's Tom Walsh with
Pat Delaney in Pursuit.

Galway had the upper hand for most of the first half and went in at the break with a 3 point lead.  There were a few heavy challenges as the tempo of the game picked up.  Early in the game, Christopher’s moved the ball at speed when in possession, looking to find Chris Brady and Gavin O’Grady in the corners.  O’Grady, Brady and Casey pointed early in the half, but Galway then picked up their effort and outscored their opponents by six points to two for the remainder of the half.  Sean O’Donnell twice made deep runs into opposing territory from his half back position to point, and other scores came from Paddy O’Rourke, Kevin O’Grady and a fantastic effort from Jamie Keogh. 

Sean O'Donnell Skips Past Dan Kenneally.

Galway took the bull by the horns for the second half and played the much better football.  Christopher’s stars in the forward line were largely anonymous, while for Galway the side was full of running for each other.  With Eoin Whelan playing well at center back, Galway did most of the attacking.  Christopher’s needed a spark to liven up their performance, and after scoring a great goal to open the half one wondered if their performance would be lifted.  Casey made the opening and passed to Brady who found the incoming Kevin Canty.  All Canty had to do was palm the ball into the net.  With the sides now level it was Galway who lifted their efforts.  Following a double sending off, Jamie Keogh for Galway and David O’Leary for Christopher’s, Galway tallied three points on the trot.  Tom Walsh, O’Grady, and O’Rourke were the scorers.  Christopher’s managed two points, both starting with long solo runs by Tom Clancy as the team effort sagged and the typical passing game was not there for Christopher’s.  A missed 21 yard free from Daithi Casey underlined the type of day Christopher’s were having.  Galway finished strong with points from O’Grady and O’Rourke.  The tribesmen are now into a second consecutive senior football semi-final, but Donegal will prove to be a tough opponent to get through to go one better this year.

Referee:  Colm Schwer (Cill Dara)

Man of the Match:  Eoin Whelan (Galway)

Galway:  P. McComiskey, J. O’Callaghan, D. Wynne, S. Gallagher, E. Whelan, S. O’Donnell, E. Kavanagh, R. Tierney, J. Kehoe, T. Walsh, D. Reddin, K. O’Grady, P. O’Rourke.  Christopher’s:  P. Kenneally, N. Ryan, C. Murphy, T. Clancy, B. O’Regan, D. O’Leary, P. Delaney, D. Kenneally, J. Kenneally, K. Canty, D. Casey, G. O’Grady, C. Brady.

By Rory O'Donnell