Galway 2-13
Mayo 1-10
By Daragh Small
SUPER SUB EOIN Finnerty made the game safe as Galway knocked reigning EirGrid All-Ireland U21 football champions Mayo out of the Connacht semi-final at Tuam Stadium.
The conditions were ideal and the province’s two most successful counties at this level served up an old-fashioned derby battle in front of a bumper crowd.
Mayo won the All-Ireland last year when they got the better of Cork after a stellar campaign in 2016, but Galway had too much after they led 0-10 to 1-5 at half-time.
Brian Reape goaled for Mayo, but two second-half strikes from Dessie Conneely and Finnerty helped Galway through, and they go on to face Sligo in the decider next Saturday.
Mayo have won 24 U-21 Connacht titles, and beat Roscommon in last year’s decider, but they were slow to get going.
Peter Cooke and Brian Reape swapped points early on but Galway went 0-5 to 0-1 up when Cillian McDaid scored in the 12th minute.
When Paul Mannion hit his third point nine minutes before half-time Galway were six clear, but Mayo got the goal when they needed it.
James Carr and Ryan O’Donoghue combined for Brian Reape to rattle the net and bring them back into contention.
Mayo only trailed 0-10 to 1-5 at half-time but Conneely scored the crucial goal in the 36th minute.
Eoin Finnerty sealed the win one minute after his introduction and James Kelly got sent-off for a straight red when he collided with Dylan McHugh.
Scorers for Galway: P Mannion 0-4, D Conneely 1-0, E Finnerty 1-0, P Cooke 0-3 (0-2f, 0-1 45), R Finnerty 0-2 (0-1f), M Daly 0-2, C McDaid 0-1, C Brady 0-1.
Scorers for Mayo: B Reape 1-6 (0-5f), M Flanagan 0-1 (0-1 45), M Murray 0-1, J Lyons 0-1, M Ruane 0-1.
Galway
1. Ronan O Beolain (Micheal Breathnach)
2. Liam Kelly (An Spideal)
3. Sean Andy O Ceallaigh (Leitir Mor)
4. Rory Greene (Killannin)
5. Kieran Molloy (Corofin)
6. Dylan McHugh (Corofin)
7. Cillian McDaid (Monivea-Abbey)
8. Peter Cooke (Moycullen)
11. Michael Daly (Mountbellew-Moylough)
10. Antaine O Laoi (An Spideal)
9. Colm Brennan (Oileain Arainn)
12. Colin Brady (Corofin)
13. Robert Finnerty (Salthill-Knocknacarra)
14. Paul Mannion (Kilconly)
15. Dessie Conneely (Moycullen)
Substitutes:
18. Sean Kelly (Moycullen) for McDaid (40)
21. Eoin Finnerty (Mountbellew-Moylough) for Brady (48)
20. Cein D’Arcy (Caherlistrane) for C Brennan (52)
23. Eric Lee (Oughterard) for McHugh (32)
24. Colm Mannion (Mountbellew-Moylough) for O Laoi (36).
22. Michael Boyle (Killererin) for Conneely (37).
Mayo
1. Matthew Flanagan (Balla)
5. Marcus Park (Knockmore)
4. Sean Conlon (Castlebar Mitchels)
2. Stephen Brennan (Claremorris)
7. Shairoze Akram (Ballaghaderreen)
3. Eoin O’Donoghue (Bellmullet)
6. Dylan Cannon (Breaffy)
8. Matthew Ruane (Breaffy)
9. Mike Murray (Ballina Stephenites)
21. Fionn McDonagh (Westport)
20. Ryan O’Donoghue (Belmullet)
12. James Kelly (Belmullet)
15. James Carr (Ardagh)
14. Brian Reape (Moy Davitts)
13. James Lyons (Aughamore)
Substitutes:
10. James McCormack (Claremorris) for McDonagh (48)
17. Jason Forkan (Kiltimagh) for E O’Donoghue (50)
22. TJ Byrne (Kiltimagh) for R O’Donoghue (55)
11. Gerry Canavan (Mayo Gaels) for Cannon (58)
23. Jordan Flynn (Crossmolina) for Murray (36).
Referee: John Gilmartin (Sligo)
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Tallaght, Dalymount, Tolka and Aviva have all been looked at already! Does soccer not exist beyond the City??
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: u have a very very low bar
@Kevin Bury: They have to be and be seen to be fair and equitable!!
Small money compared to the cash bonfires raging at RTE, HSE, Children’s hospital, ….
Sligo Rovers have a very impressive proposal to develop the Show Grounds.
Galway Utd are looking to develop pitches for their Underage Teams. Treaty also need funding to get their own pitches.
The 80m should be divided up every year between the clubs in both the premier and first division on a needs must basis. Obviously the likes of Tallaght, Turners Cross, RSC wouldn’t need as much as say Dundalk, Drogheda, Sligo, Wexford etc. and divide it up every year until every ground in both divisions are fit for purpose and provide a positive experience for all fans.
FAI really have some neck on them.
The soccer hang “only” are looking for 67% of the overall funding by the government for Irish sports. Why don’t they go for 100% of the funding, it is after all the most successful and enjoyable sport in the country
@WqM9AAv3: successful?
@WqM9AAv3: enjoyable?
It would be a good idea to build up facilities and amenities at some of the smaller clubs. The worry would be how these projects are managed. There is one thing that is certain in Ireland these days and it’s that no project no matter the size stays on budget. You don’t want these smaller clubs with tiny revenues left on the hook for overruns that cripple them afterwards.
Jed ward you must be joking