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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I don’t often support nordies, but this one would be an exception…..
@Jumperoo: They’re welcome to you.
@Jumperoo: Jealous?
@Jumperoo: Shock horror: Non Dublin supporter would like to see Dublin lose
@Jumperoo: bitter much
@Jumperoo: As a Nordie il be in the Dublin camp!
@Denis McGrath: Awww sore loser Denis?
Dublin for Sam
@Bruce Lee: very brainey,,
@Bruce Lee: not this year. Kildare put it up to ye on Sunday broke through yer defence too easy. Only for the too giveaway goals it could have went the other way.
@Finbarr Lucey: Your command of the English language is something to behold. Your teacher should be shot.
@Finbarr Lucey: dream on, Dublin had another gear and only used when they had to
@Finbarr Lucey: have a soft spot for Kildare hope they get a semi final out of the all Ireland this year but watching the game on Sunday, Dublin never came out of 1st gear, there was another level in them, once they went 9points ahead after 11 or so mins they just cruised, never felt they were going to lose. Can’t see past them again this year.
@Finbarr Lucey: come on now Finbarr that wasn’t even our best team
While I admire what Dublin have done and how they play the game their fans have being insufferable these past few years. You would swear no other team has ever won anything. I think the gap has also closed this year.
Tyrone VS Kerry final
@phil: Poor Phil
@phil: I see just as many bitter, mean spirited and jealous comments about us from fans of other counties as I do cocky remarks from our own fans…they’re all as bad as each other, if you ask me. We spent a lot of years watching Dublin come up short, so you can’t begrudge us enjoying seeing our county setting the standard for others. Good luck with your final prediction, but I’m not sure that Tyrone can stop them.
@Alan Morrissey: Best of luck Alan. I spent my childhood in Co. Cavan, surrounded by Dublin blow ins who sagged us off for playing GAA. Now the very same people are “Dublin die hard, life long fans”. I suspect it is them who are the biggest group insufferable Dubs.
@phil: listening to the pundits too you would also think no one else has either. Creating the dublin vs the rest if the country attitude on both sides.
Thinking too far ahead, a lot can happen in between.
@Frainc Ó Broin: The sport is unfortunately very predictable and the qualifiers on that side of the draw aren’t playing well.
@Rochelle: I think both Monaghan and Kildare would stand a good chance against Tyrone.
@Rochelle: Tell that to Roscommon
If and when they do meet( no disrespect to the other counties), I’d fancy Tyrone to suffocate that excellent Dublin attack. Can they convert at the other end though ? We’ll have to wait and see. My money’s on Tyrone..
@Harry Corry: I will have some of that with you, happy to take your money. Let’s go big.
@Harry Corry: That’s the big question. Or will they go into safe mode in the last 10-15 mins like they did in the league game?
@Harry Corry: I fancy the Dubs to take them. Jim Gavin has freshened up his team this year and I think they’re in a better position than last year when they looked jaded by August
@Brendan Farrell: they played Kerry in August last year, that game showed they were any but jaded. Fantastic game of football
Tyrone aren’t at the Dublin level, even if they suffocate the attack they don’t have enough to outscore them. Kerry are the big danger for them. Dublin winning 3 in a row is unacceptable in their world and they are gunning for them. There’ll still be some decent games getting there but it’ll be a thunderous all Ireland final.
Sam is staying put. Simples. Nobody is good enough to stop us. Fact.
@The Jacket: Kerry were good enough to beat them in the league!
@Sean Murnin: Hup the kingdom! Also if Dublin and Tyrone do meet, it will be a bloodbath, I’m one of those sadistic types that enjoys watching them batter each other up and down the pitch. Kerry for Sam though
@Sean Murnin: That wasn’t Sam though, Dublin have had Kerry’s number in the championship for the last 6 years…..we waited long enough for that to happen, mind.
@Sean Murnin: Because league form dictates how the championship is going to play out right?
@Ciara Baines: Well it has for Dublin from 2013 – 2016
I wouldn’t rule Kildare out against Tyrone if they meet. A couple of things didn’t go their way yesterday and I think they could cause an upset yet. Tyrone have the duvet to frustrate Dublin but this Dublin attack only needs a foot or two of space to cause damage. It would be some semi and could take it out of the winner ahead of a final.
It’s a mouth watering prospect. I reckon it’s set up for Kerry, safely on the other side of the draw.
There’s a reason why 3 in a row is so difficult to do. Dublin’s strength in depth could see them do it but I reckon the favourites would be Kerry, Dublin and Tyrone in that order.
@Cian Nolan: how could Kerry be possibly favourites.
@Phil Moran: well Dublin failed to beat Kerry in two attempts already this year. Kerry have won 3 minor ALL Ireland’s back to back and Kerry have the “easier” route to the final. So I can see why some people would favour them.
@TheSecretAnorak: the easier route can work against you. Kerry could be going into an all Ireland final without a real test against a battle hardened team
Hang on there, Tyrone beat Down, seriously when was the last time Down were competetive? Tyrone blew it against Mayo last year. They had 4 golden chances to level the game vs Mayo and missed each 1. So what suggests they can be serious challengers? I would like to see them challenge but the media are going into overdrive about them without any substance. 2 Ulsters titles on the bounce means nothing if you can’t make it past August.
Kildare could rattle.tyrone yet
Going by the headline neither team have to play a quarter final
Tyrone could certainly beat Dublin but they would need to be at their best to do it. I have nothing but respect for the Dubs. A great team but the gap has closed and i’m sure Tyrone would relish a match against them. Tyrone have it in them to beat this Dublin team.
Come on Tyrone
@billy Dorney: bitter rebel
I missed the quarter finals….I should have got sky and eir!
STUPID ARTICLE AND VERY DISRESPECTFUL TO THE 4 OTHER COUNTIES.
@Declan Brady: No need to shout!
@Ciara Baines: LOUD NOISES!!!!
@Thomas McGilly: No its not the other 4 counties don’t have a chance
@phil: It is, doesn’t matter if you would bet the house on em. A news article shouldn’t look past the next hurdle. It’s ok for us joe soaps on the bar stool to make assumptions.
@Declan Brady: dead right. Par for the course for this “journalist” I’m afraid.
The draw is nicely set up for Kerry to get through for another handy one
@John Brennan: yeah though they will be beaten in the final dublin has the edge better players in every position
C’mon T’rone!!!!
I’m a true believer in getting what u deserve dublin have the strength in depth to bet Tyrone but dublin have to up there game show that they want the 3 in a row and make history up the dubs
A tight game no doubt, tyrone will make it a dour affair and they will fancy their chances.
One game of top class hurling is better than a whole championship of this adulterated garbage. The biggest laugh of all is calling it football, there isn’t one half decent footballer amongst the lot of em.
@Leonard Barry: you were a serious footballer yourself I believe Len!
@Leonard Barry: until the injury got you!!