Galway 3-12
Kildare 1-12

John Fallon reports from Tuam Stadium

GALWAY’S ABILITY TO strike for goals served them well today in Tuam Stadium as they preserved their Division Two status.

And in the process they condemned Kildare to their second successive relegation.

Kildare were in trouble when they trailed by 1-10 to 0-7 at half-time, having played with the breeze in the opening half.

Indeed, they would have been further behind had goalkeeper Mark Donnellan not produced excellent saves to deny Sean Denvir and Shane Walsh, while Patrick Sweeney side-footed another goal chance just wide.

But Donnellan could do nothing to deny Walsh 11 minutes from the interval when he blasted to the net after good approach work from Gary Sice and Peadar Og O Griofa.

Kildare struggled to make headway against a good Galway defence with Lilywhite midfielders Gary White and Paul Cribbin scoring two points each from distance in that opening half.

Kildare were much improved after the restart and they struck points from Eogahn O’Flaherty, Alan Smith and Daniel Flynn to reduce the margin to 1-10 to 0-10 after 43 minutes.

But Galway struck a telling blow after 48 minutes when a ball rebounded into Fiontan O Curraoin’s hands and he finished to the net to put the Tribesmen six points up.

Kildare did not give up but Manus Breathnach produced a great save to deny Cathal McNally and Galway came downfield and scored their third goal when Walsh found the net for the second time.

Kildare continued to fight a losing battle with Mikey Conway hitting a post with a penalty which saw O’Curraoin sent off for a second yellow.

There was a late consolation for Kildare when Daniel Flynn found the net in closing stages.

Scorers for Galway: Shane Walsh 2-1, Peadar Óg Ó Gríofa 0-4 (0-3f), Fiontan O’Curraoin 1-1, Paul Conroy 0-3 (0-3f), Gary Sice, Patrick Sweeney, Manus Breathnach (0-1 ’45) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kildare: Daniel Flynn 1-1, Gary White, Paul Cribbin, Alan Smith, Mikey Conway (0-2f) 0-2 each, Eamon Callaghan, Padraig Fogarty, Eoghan O’Flaherty 0-1 each.

Galway

1. Manus Breathnach (An Spidéal)

2. Johnny Duane (St James’)
3. Finian Hanley (Salthill-Knocknacarra)
4. Cathal Sweeney (Killanin)

7. Gary O’Donnell (Tuam Stars)
6. Gareth Bradshaw (Moycullen)
25. Paul Varley (Cortoon Shamrocks)

8. Fiontán Ó Curraoin (Mícheál Breathnach)
9. Paul Conroy (St James’)

10. Gary Sice (Corofin)
26. Shane Walsh (Kilkerrin-Clonberne)
12. Sean Denvir (Mícheál Breathnach)

13. Peader Óg Ó Gríofa (Micheál Breathnach)
14. Patrick Sweeney (Killanin)
15. Michael Lundy (Corofin)

Subs
5. Liam Silke (Corfin) for Bradshaw (40)
11. Damien Comer (Annaghdown) for P Sweeney (46)
24. Adrian Varley (Cortoon Shamrocks) for Comer (55)
19. Conor Healy (Salthill-Knocknacarra) for O’Griofa (68)
20. Eddie Hoare (St Michael’s) for Denvir (72)

Kildare

1. Mark Donnellan (Maynooth)

2. Ollie Lyons (Celbridge)
4. Ciaran Fitzpatrick (Kilcock)
3. Mick O’Grady (Celbridge)

5. Peter Kelly (Two Mile House)
6. Fergal Conway (Celbridge)
7. Emmet Bolton (Eadestown)

8. Gary White (Sarsfields)
9. Paul Cribbin (Johnstownbridge)

10. Keith Cribbin (Johnstownbridge)
11. Eoghan O’Flaherty (Carbury)
12. Fionn Dowling (Suncroft)

15. Alan Smith (Sarsfields)
14. Padraig Fogarty (St Laurence’s)
13. Eamonn Callaghan (Naas)

Subs
18. David Hyland (Athy) for Fitzpatrick (35)
22. Daniel Flynn (Johnstownbridge) for Fogarty (35)
21. Tommy Moolick (Leixlip) for White (50)
25. Cathal McNally (Johnstownbridge) for Callaghan (54)
24. Mikey Conway (Nurney) for O’Flaherty (60)
17. Gavin Farrell (Castledermot) for K Cribbin (68)

Referee: Sean Hurson (Tyrone)

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