Senior Football: Galway v Wolfe Tones

Wolfe Tones 4-15 Galway 1-19

Wolfe Tones added a win to their victory from their first season outing.  Three goals, two right at the start of the game and the third early in the second half, proved to be the platform for victory.  Galway made up most of the difference and stayed with their opponents in the first half, but after conceding the third goal ran out of steam somewhat. 

Cian McMonagle on a Galway attack.

The Tones got off the dream start, with not just one, but two early goals.  The first came from corner forward, Robbie Cunningham, who picked his spot well amid a forest of Galway defenders.  Almost immediately a second came from James Dolan after Galway turned the ball over in their own back line.  The groans in the crowd from the expectant Galway supporters were audible.  It did not take the westerners long to get themselves back into the game.  With Cian McMonagle at corner forward and picking up from where he left off last year, Galway had a valuable scoring outlet.  Adam Gallagher and Owen Gallagher in the half forward line proved a handful for the Tones defence.  Galway eventually pulled the goal back after a great move left Jamie Kehoe to deliver the finishing touch.  Kehoe was in a second time, but on this occasion thumped the ball off the crossbar.  McMonagle had his shooting boots on and several lovely points were put over by the Kildare native.  The Tones had plenty to offer themselves.  Ronan Jones was involved in almost everything, and Dean Curran up front opened the space when in possession.  Curran finished a number of moves with points.  It was a 2-9 to 1-9 in favor of the Tones at the break.

Ronan Jones

The second half saw the Tones net a third goal as the Galway defence was opened up again.  Robbie Cunningham fed the incoming Dolan, who netted expertly.  Galway kept trying to plug away at the gap, but the Tones proved just a bit too strong as the Galway effort ran out of steam.  Dolan, Jack Lynch, and Curran pointed.   Galway were unable to follow a score with a second as the Tones answered each one to maintain their advantage. A late Curran goal killed off any Galway hopes, however, with this performance Galway look like they will be in every game, as long as they don’t give themselves so much to do early in the game.

Tones:  Shane Tones, Kevin Maguire, Keith Gill, Connlaodh Deeney, Eoin Buggy, Warren Kavanagh, Ian Whelan, Ronan Jones, Mike O’Brien, Jack Lynch, James Dolan, Dean Curran, Robbie Cunningham.

Galway:  Jamie Kelly, Daire Quinn, Ray Ryan, Tom Davey, Declan Walsh, Sean Moriarty, Paddy Naughton, Ray Connelly, Stewey Cullen, Eoin Gallagher, Adam Gallagher, Jamie Keogh, Cian McMonagle.

By Rory O'Donnell