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