Donegal 1-11 Galway 4-12
Brighton is all abuzz as the Galway footballers reached
their first final since 1989 in a tight game against a fancied Donegal
team. The game was neck and neck until
the final 10 minutes when Galway outscored Donegal by 2-4 to 0-3. Michael Daly, Eoin Finnerty, and James
Kennedy were the goal heroes in a strong finish that saw the westerners into
the final.
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| Eoin Bradley has an eye on the goal early in the second half. |
The first half was as tight as could be. There was never more than two points between
the teams. Both teams defended in
numbers, however, there were plenty of well taken scores between the
teams. Donegal went into an early two
point lead following points from Darragh Kavanagh (2) and Eoin Bradley. Donegal looked like the better side in the
early going but eventually Galway settled.
Cillian O’Sullivan and Michael Daly drew the teams level, and Donegal
had a couple of let offs as Galway broke the defensive cover on two occasions
only to see the chances go awry.
Galway eventually netted after Daly was pulled down in the
area and Kevin Cummins put the spot kick away.
Donegal answered immediately with fine scores from Paddy Bradley and
Eoin O’Connor, and it was Galway’s turn to defend. On a number of occasions a goal was on the
cards for Donegal only to see a Galway defender intervene at the last minute
and snatch the opportunity away. Galway
went in at the break with a 1-5 to 0-7 lead.
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| Colm Mannion in possession for Galway. |
The second period was no different with the crowd treated to
an exciting 30 minutes of football.
Galway needed to get Michael Daly more involved, and the Mountbellew man
came up big when needed. After the sides
traded points Eoin Bradley got inside his man and netted to the top corner. Would the score turn the game in Donegal’s
favour? Galway answered almost
immediately with a goal from Daly who had one thing on his mind. Donegal missed a handful of chances, while
Galway twice pointed to put themselves a goal ahead going into the final 15
minutes.
Eoin O’Connor and Kevin Cummins pointed once for each side,
and Galway started to play keep ball to try and kill the clock. The tribesmen picked their moments and
finished strong, three points on the trot from Cummins, Finnerty, and Daly was
capped by a Finnerty goal. Cillian
O’Sullivan latched on to a loose ball in the middle of the field and combined
with Daly to find the open Finnerty who palmed the ball into the open net. With less than five minutes left Galway led
by 2 goals.
The last few minutes saw Galway add another goal after
corner back James Kennedy ran the length of the field and his shot looped into
the corner of the net and the celebrations began for Galway. It was a win that sees Galway into their
first final since 1989, when Galway footballers last won the Boston senior
football championship. Wolfe Tones, who
looked very well drilled in their victory over Connemara Gaels, provide the
opposition. A great final lies in store
at 4:00 next Sunday at the ICC.
Donegal: B. Flynn, C.
Byrne, J. Noctor, C. Russell, G. Brennan, G. Gallagher, R. Caldwell, B.
Donnelly, T. Durnin, E. Bradley, E. O’Connor, D. Kavanagh, P. Bradley.
Galway: J. Kelly, J.
Kennedy, K. McDonnell, S. Cullen, P. Naughton, C. Mannion, E. Kavanagh, E.
Stritch, M. Daly, C. O’Sullivan, B. McHugh, K. Cummins, E. Finnerty.
By Rory O'Donnell
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