Sunday, June 29th 2025 - Men's Senior Football Championship - Galway Boston vs Donegal Boston

Galway Boston vs Donegal Boston

Sunday, June 29th 2pm

Galway Boston 2-22 | Donegal Boston 3-17

A thrilling contest unfolded in Canton on Sunday afternoon as Galway and Donegal played out a high-scoring and hard-fought affair.

Donegal burst through the Galway defense with a goal inside the opening minute, Michael O’Rowe firing home after linking with Jordan Morrissey. Stephen O’Brien added a point off the resulting kickout, and Donegal looked sharp early, 1-1 to no score.

Galway responded through a point from Tom O’Flaherty after Michael Moylan drove forward. A pointed free from Nathan Grainger followed to narrow the gap. Donegal hit back through O’Brien and were soon four ahead again, 0-2 to 1-3. 

Galway’s Grainger added a 2-pointer and it was answered with a goal from Donegal’s Morrissey and points from Daire Cregg and O’Rowe.

Galway were in need of a lift and got it when Paudi Behan picked out O’Flaherty inside. O’Flaherty slotted it past the keeper to cut the margin to four, 1-4 to 2-5.

The game settled into a tit for tat rhythm. Donegal added points through Morrissey and Cregg, while Lewis Ryan and O’Flaherty kept Galway in touch. 

Morrissey added two more before the break, but Galway finished the half the strong with Grainger pointing twice to bring the deficit back to four.

Half-time: Galway 1-9 | Donegal 2-10

Donegal opened the second half brightly. O’Rowe fisted over after a good solo run, and points followed from Carthy, Cregg, and McDevitt to put six between the sides, 1-10 to 2-13.

But Galway weren’t going away. Lewis Ryan and Grainger pointed in reply, before another Morrissey effort extended Donegal’s lead. Then came a crucial 2-pointer from Grainger to reduce the margin to 3.

Moments later, Galway were awarded a penalty. Grainger stepped up and buried it to level the game at 2-14 apiece.

The parity didn’t last long. Donegal were awarded a penalty of their own, and Daire Cregg made no mistake to restore their three-point lead. A black card was shown to Jason Noctor  that reduced Donegal to 12 men, and Galway took advantage of having the extra player.

Grainger pointed from a free, and O’Flaherty added a 2-pointer to level the game once more. Morrissey and Grainger traded points, before Ciarán Potter drove forward for Galway from the kickout to find Grainger inside for another point — all square again at 2-18 to 3-15.

Donegal surged once more. Cregg and Carthy pointed from play to edge their side back in front by 2. Galway’s substitute Senan Baker made a difference in his introduction with a 2-pointer from a free to tie the game.

With both sides pushing for a winner, it was Baker again who stepped up, adding a 2-pointer for Galway, sealing the win for the maroon and white side.

Full-time: Galway 2-22 | Donegal 3-17

Teams & Scorers

Galway Boston:
Kyle Long, Rory O’Connor, Aaron Kavanagh, Michael Moylan, Seán Forde, Ciarán Potter, Paudi Behan, Eoin Morrissey, Conor Hussey, Tom O’Flaherty (1-3, x1 2pointer), Lewis Ryan (0-2), Jack Lawlor (0-1), Nathan Grainger (1-10, x2 2pointer)
Subs: Senan Baker (0-4, x2 2pointer)

Donegal Boston:
Hugh Boyle, Cian Lynch, Neil Mulcahy, Cory Gallagher (0-1), Jason Noctor, Sean Winston, Shane Carthy (0-2), Jordan Morrissey (1-5), Ciarán McDevitt (0-1), Michael O’Rowe (1-3), Stephen O’Brien (0-2), Conor Cush, Daire Cregg (1-4)

Referee: Anthony Coyne

Sunday June 29th 2025 - Men's Senior Football Championship - Connemara Gaels vs Shannon Blues

Connemara Gaels vs Shannon Blues

Sunday June 29th 12:30pm

Connemara Gaels 1-15 | Shannon Blues 1-10

The midday heat in Canton set the stage for a tightly contested senior championship clash between Connemara Gaels and Shannon Blues.

The Blues got off the mark first with a free from Cian Purcell, but Gaels were quick to respond. Jack Lynch won a kickout to launch an attack that ended with Cian McMahon pointing to level matters. Cathal Ryan added one soon after, and Gaels led 0-3 to 0-1.

The Blues hit back in style. Jordan Kissane burst through the middle and found the back of the net, putting the Blues into the lead, 1-1 to 0-3. Gaels responded immediately. Eoin Bagnall curled over a 2-pointer off his right, then followed with a free to restore the Gaels’ advantage.

Shortly after, Cian Folan raised a green flag for the Gaels. McMahon and Folan added points to extend the gap, leaving the Gaels up by 7 at the break.

Half-time: Connemara Gaels 1-8 | Shannon Blues 1-1

Bagnall opened the second half with a pointed free to stretch the lead to eight. Kissane replied with a point for the Blues, but Cathal Ryan had one of his own at the other end to maintain the gap.

Greg Horan added a 2-pointer for the Blues that reduced the margin to six, but the Gaels hit back with two more points, McMahon from play and Bagnall with another free.

The Blues then added 3 more points, coming from Gavin Connolly, Kissane, and a free from Rian O’Sullivan which brought them within five, 1-12 to 1-7.

Gaels Sean O’Leary split the posts before Ryan Caffrey fisted one over. The Blues were not giving up. Kissane won a kickout and set up a point for Michael McSorley, while Connolly added another point, using a dummy hop to open the space for his shot. 

The Gaels went looking for a second goal to kill it, but were denied by a good save from Nik Albarron in the Blues goal. The Blues kept pressing but the Gaels’ defense were not letting them in.

A final point from Blues Rian O’Sullivan closed the scoring of the day, resulting in a 5 point win for Gaels.

Full-time: Connemara Gaels 1-15 | Shannon Blues 1-10

Teams & Scorers

Connemara Gaels:
Stephen Murray, Adam Fallon, Dara Curran, Jack Lynch, Dara O’Callaghan, Ryan Caffrey (0-1), Dylan Murtagh, Cathal Ryan (0-2), Sean O’Leary (0-1), Cian McMahon (0-3), Gavin Horan, Cian Folan (1-1), Eoin Bagnall (0-6, x1 2-pointer)

Shannon Blues:
Nik Albarron, Ryan Nugent, Conor Johnston, Ryan O’Donnell, Gavin Connolly (0-2), Calum McClorey, David Ciuciu, Greg Horan (0-2, x1 2pointer), Simon Murphy, Jordan Kissane (1-2), Conor Fitzgerald, Joshua Flynn, Cian Purcell (0-1)
Subs: Rian O’Sullivan (0-2), Michael McSorley (0-1)

Referee: Anthony Coyne