Full Time Score:
Donegal: 0-13
Galway: 0-13
By Neil McEnaney
A share of the spoils for Galway and Donegal in what was at times cagey but always entertaining game. A black card for Galway in the second half let Donegal take advantage and spring to a 4 point lead, but Galway didn’t panic, and dug in well to salvage a draw.
Donegal won the throw up and moved the ball quickly into Donal O’Sullivan who fisted it to Cian O’Grady on the loop who pointed from a tight angle. Galway responded immediately with Eoin Colleran linking up well with Paul Carey before Eoin Colleran kicked a great point with the outside of his left boot from a difficult angle to level the sides.
Ben McCarron finished off a nice move for Donegal before Carey converted from a free. The two sides went point for point for the whole first half with neither sides giving the other an inch. Galway started moving the ball quickly into the forwards and Daire Keenan finished off some great moves with two well taken points.
A high sideline ball from Shane Carthy into the square created a half a goal chance that was blasted over the bar by McCarron. From the resulting kickout, Donal O’Sullivan rounded his man before fisting it across to McCarron who hit the side netting with a diving fisted attempt.
Colleran continued to show his point taking ability with a great point coming from the right wing. At the other end, McCarron broke through for a goal chance but James Egan in goals narrowed the angle well forcing him to kick it wide.
Galway created a great goal chance of their own with Carey getting an early ball inside and taking on his man before fisting it across the goal to Daire Keenan who was brilliantly denied by Hugh Boyle in nets diving on his boot for the block. Egan came up for the resulting 45 and slotted it over the bar.
Sean Lowry for Donegal won the resulting kickout and used his speed to great effect opening up the Galway defence. He was one on one with Egan who made a spectacular save to deny him a certain goal. Just minutes later, Jordan Morrissey played McCarron through on goal before Egan made another great save, diving on the left boot of McCarron. A few more points traded between the teams ended the first half.
Half Time Score:
Donegal: 0-8
Galway: 0-8
Donegal started the second half brighter with Lowry finishing off a point after a strong run from the kick out. Carey took a free from a tight angle which dropped short into the hands on Neil Mulcahy. The ball moved quickly to Morrissey who fisted it off before being stopped by the shoulder into the chest by Paul Carey. The third man tackle was enough for the referee to issue the black card to Carey.
With the extra man, Donegal made their advantage count racing to a 4 point lead with points from O’Sullivan, Lowry and Carthy. Galway played smart football when they got a hold of the ball, slowing the game down and winding down the black card clock.
A great move between Colleran and Carey set up Colleran for a goal chance that was well saved by Boyle in nets for Donegal. Colleran kicked a 20 yard dink pass into Carey and run off the shoulder for the return before being denied by the Donegal shot stopper.
Carey came back from his black card and kicked a point on the loop from the top of the D to leave 3 between the sides. The break seemed to rejuvenate Carey as he followed up with another point shortly after. O’Sullivan for Donegal did well to win his own free which he tapped over to extend the lead to 2 points. A few kickable wides for Donegal will leave them disappointed they didn’t extend their lead further.
Carey won a free and tapped it over for Galway setting up a grand stand finish with just two minutes left. Galway didn’t panic and were patient with their attack. They worked the ball to Carey who kicked a great point from the left wing on the loop to level the match.
Team and Scorers:
Donegal: Hugh Boyle, Neil Mulcahy, Cian Lynch, Cory Gallagher, Jason Noctor, Sean Winston, Shane Carthy (0-1), Jordan Morrissey, Ciaran McDevitt, Ben McCarron (0-3), Sean Lowry (0-2), Cian O’Grady (0-2), Donal O’Sullivan (0-5)
Galway: James Egan (0-1), Tomas Crean, Ciaran Potter, Michael Moylan, Stephen White, Paudi Behan, Eoin Morrissey, Declan Doyle (0-1), Maidhc MacGearaitt, Daire Keenan (0-2), Eoin Colleran (0-2), Conor Lawler, Paul Carey (0-6)
Subs: Jack Lavin (0-1)
Man of the Match: Paul Carey
Referee: Paul Walsh
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