In like Flynn: Galway dump Mayo out of Connacht with shock win in Castlebar

The Tribesmen will meet Roscommon in the Connacht final on 10 July while Stephen Rochford’s side head to the qualifiers.

Mayo 0-12

Galway 1-12

John Fallon reports from McHale Park, Mayo

THOMAS FLYNN BLASTED home the only goal of the game to bury Mayo’s hopes of an historic sixth Connacht title in a row.

Instead, Mayo will now need to dust themselves off and face into the All-Ireland qualifiers after their run of 14 consecutive wins was brought to a shock halt by 5-1 outsiders Galway.

And it was a deserved win by a Galway side who never panicked when Mayo hauled them in before half-time and then opened up a four points lead early in the second-half.

The crowd of 21,784 saw the Tribesmen lead by 0-3 to 0-1 after 22 minutes.

But Mayo responded strongly before the break with Colm Boyle and Tom Parsons pointing and by the break they were 0-8 to 0-6 ahead.

Cillian O’Connor and Eamon Brannigan, one of five debutants in the Galway side, exchanged points after the restart but Mayo went 0-11 to 0-7 in front after 50 minutes.

That set Mayo, who shot ten opening half wides, up to pull away but it was Galway who took over and after Gary Sice pulled back a point, Flynn intercepted a kickout and soloed through to drill home the only goal after 55 minutes.

Galway quickly turned the screw with Paul Conroy and Cummins adding points to lead by 1-10 to 0-11 with ten minutes remaining.

The Galway defence closed ranks and a Mayo goal never looked like materialising, with Conroy putting four between them in the closing stages.

Another free from O’Connor gave Mayo hope of snatching a draw in the closing stages but the Tribesmen closed out the deal for the shock of the summer as they advanced to a Connacht final showdown against Roscommon.

Shane Walsh celebrates at the final whistle Shane Walsh celebrates with supporters. Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO

Scorers for Galway: G Sice 0-4 (0-3f); T Flynn 1-0; E Brannigan 0-3; P Conroy 0-2; S Walsh, J Heaney & D Cummins 0-1 each.

Scorers for Mayo: C O’Connor 0-6 (0-5f, 0-1 ’45); C Boyle, T Parsons, L Keegan, S Coen, J Doherty & E Regan (f) 0-1 each.

GALWAY
1. Bernard Power (Corofin)

3. Declan Kyne (Clonbur)
2. Eoghan Kerin (Annaghdown)
4. David Wynne (Moycullen)

6. Gary O Donnell (Tuam Stars)
5. Liam Silke (Corofin)
7. Gareth Bradshaw (Moycullen)

8. Paul Conroy (St. James’)
9 Thomas Flynn (Athenry)

10. Gary Sice (Corofin)
11. Shane Walsh (Kilkerrin-Clonberne)
12. Johnny Heaney (Killannin)

13. Eamonn Brannigan (St Michaels)
14. Damien Comer (Annaghdown)
15. Danny Cummins (Claregalway)

Subs:
24. Adrian Varley (Cortoon Shamrocks) for Walsh (66)
25. Patrick Sweeney (Killanin) for Cummins (66)
26. Sean Denvir (Micheal Breathnach) for Heaney (69)
21. Enda Tierney (Oughterard) for Flynn (71, black card)

Mayo
1. Robbie Hennelly (Breaffy)

6. Colm Boyle (Davitts)
3. Kevin Keane (Westport)
2. Brendan Harrison (Aghamore)

18. Stephen Coen (Hollymount-Carramore)
5. Lee Keegan (Westport)
7. Patrick Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels)

11. Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy)
9. Jason Gibbons (Ballintubber)

10. Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore)
14. Cillian O’Connor (Ballintubber, captain)
8. Tom Parsons (Charlestown)

13. Evan Regan (Ballina Stephenites)
12. Jason Doherty (Burrishoole)
4. Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis)

Substitutes:
22. Seamus O’Shea (Breaffy) for Gibbons (21)
19. Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe) for Boyle (46-47, blood)
23. Diarmuid O’Connor (Ballintubber) for Harrison (59)
19. Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe) for Keane (59)
25. Andy Moran (Ballaghadereen) for Regan (64)
26. Alan Freeman (Aghamore) for Parson (69)

Referee: C Lane (Cork)

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