Sun June 16 - Senior Football: Galway v Connemara Gaels

Connemara Gaels 2-11 Galway 0-6

A first win for the Gaels in their second outing of the season, and for Galway still looking for a result in the early season.  It was not a day for fancy stuff given the conditions, and for 25 minutes the punters were limited to seeing 4 scores.  The Gaels won the game at the end of the first half and the beginning of the second with a flurry of scores in each period. 

Nathan Donnelly with Billy Mannion in pursuit.

The damp, drizzly conditions made for less than ideal conditions as the opening 30 minutes would not be described as free flowing football.   Up till 5 minutes before the break the score stood at two points to three in the Gaels favor, reflective of the slow pace of the game.  Galway were held to a solitary Adam Gallagher point from a free, while the Gaels did slightly better with points from Sean Conneeley, Kevin O’Halloran and Nathan Donnelly, Donnelly’s score the pick of the bunch.

After Danny Burke made it a one point game with a well taken point, the Gaels ended the half with a flourish.  Ryan Caffrey burst down the middle and a couple of exchanges between Caffrey and O’Halloran, all that was left for Pauric McAnenly to do was put the ball into the empty net.  Keelan Sexton followed with a point and McAnenly another just before the break to make it a 0-2 to 1-5 Gaels advantage at half time.

Sean Conneeley on the ball.

The start of the second half saw the Gaels strike again.  This time the goal came from Sexton who won the ball on the edge of the square and jinked his way past the keeper and banged it into the roof of the net.  McAnenly and O’Halloran had pointed to a single point from Leo Donnellan for Galway.  The Tribesmen had their backs up against it now, trailing by 10 points with 25 minutes to go.

Galway battled away but were up against a resolute Gaels defence on a day where scores were at a premium.  A goal would be essential for any comeback hope, but it did not look a possibility on the balance of play.  Frustration kicked in as James Foley was issued a black card for a hand trip, and after 2 more Gaels points the Connemara men brought in the troops off the line.  Billy Mannion did find a way past the defenders but Sean Cox was up to the task of stopping it.  The teams played out time and the Gaels off the mark in 2019.

Galway:  Jamie Kelly, Mark Mannion, Evan Wynne, Gerard Donoghue, Derry Burke, James Foley, Eoghan Kavanagh, Billy Mannion, Stuart Cullen, Adam Gallagher, Leo Donnellan, Sean Hyland, Kevin Cummins.

Gaels:  Sean Fox, Niall Collins, David Larkin, Damien Doolan, Colm O’Shaughnessy, Ciaran Killeen, Ryan Caffrey, Nathan Donnelly, Sean Conneeley, Kevin O’Halloran, Cian Murphy, Keelan Sexton, Pauric McAneley.

By Rory O'Donnell