Galway 0-11 Wolfe Tones 1-11
It was a dogged affair between Galway and the Tones. An early second half goal from Ryan O’Neill
proved to be the difference between the team in the end as the Tones held on to
maintain the gap between the teams and secure 2 championship points.
Galway kept themselves in the game over the first 30
minutes. Sean Hyland and Adam Gallagher
each pointed to get the Westerners off the mark. The Tones were not long getting themselves up
to speed and into the game. Thomas
Beckett pointed and was followed immediately by Ronan Jones from the ensuing
kickout to level affairs. Billy Mannion
put a brilliant score over the bar for Galway, and James Foley added to it to
restore Galway’s 2 point advantage, but the Tones soon got a grip of the game
and finished the half strongly.
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| Galway's Billy Mannion leaps highest |
The last 5 points of the half were each scored by a player
in a Blue shirt and on a couple of occasions the Galway rearguard were called
on to make last ditch stops to prevent a goal.
The pace of the game slowed, and when in possession Galway were
measured, but in spite of some close misses did not add to their lead. Ryan O’Neill, Jerry Troy, Pascal Connell and
Beckett each pointed to make it a 0-7 to 0-4 Tones half time lead.
An early goal in the second half provided the Tones with an
advantage that Galway could not eat into.
In spite of leveling matters in the point’s column, the three pointer
stood between the sides and endured for the remainder of the game. Billy Mannion and Foley had cut the lead in
half before the Tones struck with the major.
It was an immediate response to the Galway brace, with Tones corner
forward Ryan O’Neill cutting in from an angle and hitting the roof of the net.
Galway kept plugging away.
Some good work from Cummins and a Foley free kick had the gap reduced to
2 points again, but again O’Neill and Troy restored the difference with points
of their own as Galway’s efforts were almost immediately canceled out.
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| Tones Ryan O'Neill about to shoot. |
A scuffle broke out in the Tones goalmouth after an apparent
off the ball episode with warning issued to Paudie Kenneally and Kevin Cummins
with 10 minutes to go. The Tones started
to play keep-ball to kill off the clock and for Galway a goal would be required
with time ticking away. Galway continued
to work had to get the ball into a scoring position, but the Tones were up to
the task of closing down the space to prevent a shooting opportunity. A last minute free that was dropped into the
Tones square was adequately cleared.
Galway: Stephen
Potter, Mark Mannion, Gerard Donoghue, Tom Davey, Danny Burke, James Foley,
Eoghan Kavanagh, Billy Mannion, Stuart Cullen, Adam Gallagher, Leo Donnellan,
Sean Hyland, Kevin Cummins.
Tones: Shane Hayes,
Paudie Kenneally, Darren Lawler, Enda Cahill, Jack lynch, Paul Clifford, Paschal
Connell, Ronan Jones, Mike O’Brien, Jerry Troy, Thomas Beckett, Ryan O’Neill,
Brendan Carroll.
By Rory O'Donnell
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