Galway 2-18
New York 0-8
DAMIEN COMER INSPIRED Galway as they advanced to face Leitrim in the next round of the Connacht senior football championship after a leisurely victory over New York at Gaelic Park in the Bronx on Sunday.
Man-of-the-match Comer wasn’t even due to start but was parachuted into the starting 15 after a stomach bug hit the Galway panel and he duly responded with an impressive 1-4 tally.
It may have been the least comprehensive of recent defeats suffered by the Exiles on their home turf but it was never in doubt after Galway rode the initial New York dominance.
Former Donegal star Ross Wherity failed to beat the hamstring injury that had bothered him since the defeat to Cavan and was replaced in the starting line-up by Jason Kelly.
But the worries were greater for the Tribesmen who lost goalkeeper Brian Donoghue as well as key forwards Michael Lundy and Patrick Sweeney to the mysterious bug.
PJ Banville led the way for New York in the opening stages, converting two early frees as the Galway men started slower. Comer – who replaced Sweeney – and centre forward Shane Walsh brought Galway back level by the 11th minute before a 20th minute point from Banville had the hosts in front again.
Comer was finally hitting his stride and a few scores by him finally had the visitors in the lead and in control as the half hour mark ticked by.
An injury to one of New York’s key men Brian Connor proved a further blow and Galway could have extended their lead significantly had it not been for a great point blank save by New York keeper Gavin Joyce whose deflection over the bar just before the break kept the New Yorkers in touch.
Galway began the second half with a five-point advantage – 0-9 to 0-4 – but that man Banville was presented with another free close in that he easily pointed from the left.
However, that only served to get a rise out of the Connacht men who quickly countered, allowing centre forward Shane Walsh to cut through the middle and rifle a low shot to the corner past Joyce.
That was quickly followed by a fisted point from Danny Cummins in the 40th minute, a score which was followed by a prolonged period of cagey football and wayward shooting.
Banville finally got his side back to scoring ways, pointing excellently from play from the left after turning on to his right.
That was quickly cancelled out by Galway, however, Peadar Óg Ó Gríofa sending over a free from the right that made the score 1-11 to 0-6 in Galway’s favour.
Points from captain and midfielder Paul Conroy and half back Sean Denivr opened out the lead to 10 points but it could have been worse for New York after Keith Quinn brilliantly cleared off the line from a handpass send into the small rectangle. Denvir converted the 45′ however and O Griofa followed up with another score as the spirits of the home team flagged.
It was well over as a contest when Comer punched home the second goal of the day after a fine move down the right and the game petered out from there with Galway coasting their way to their 16-point victory.
GALWAY: T Healy; J Duane, F Hanley, C Sweeney (P Naughton); L Silke (0-1), G O’Donnell, S Denvir (0-1) (P Varley); F Ó Curraoin (0-1), P Conroy (0-1, capt, T Flynn); G Sice (M Martin), S Walsh (1-4, 1f), E Hoare (M Lundy); P Ó Gríofa (0-4, 2f), D Comer (1-4, 2 45s, A Varley), D Cummins (0-1).
Other scorer – sub M Martin (0-1)
NEW YORK: G Joyce; R McGinley; G McCartan, K Quinn, B Gibbons; K Scally (capt), C Maginn (K Moynagh); A Hope (G McCullagh), B Connor (D Nation (McGeeney)); J Kelly (E McPhilips), N McFeely, D Freeman; JJ Mathews (0-1), PJ Banville (0-7, 4f), G O’Driscoll.
Referee: C Branagan (Down).
Really going to miss Isa, always gave 110% and was such a lovely guy, going to be big shoes to fill.
@Sam Harms: Always enjoyed watching him during those Magners League/Pro 12 games during the international break. Nacewa would regularly find himseld at 15 with 2 young wingers either side of him. He’d guide them though the game, defensively. Where to stand, how far from the centre, when to push in, when to push up etc That’s why I was really hoping he’d stay around and do some coaching. He looks like a coach already.
Leo didn’t exactly give a vote of confidence to Carbery on Saturday, Sexton was goosed, couldn’t kick and could barely run, Nacewa had taken over kicking duties and yet he still kept him on the bench. A move away is badly needed for him. I wouldn’t expect Sexton to be fit for this weekend so it’ll be telling to see who Cullen goes for.
On another note I really enjoyed the game on Saturday. Real tough game and Leinster ground out the result. I was delighted for them.
@Jim Demps: there was no way anyone was coming on to replace Sexton, unless he literally couldnt walk, when it was that close
@Sam Harms: yeh good point Sam,I’m sure he kept him on for a potential drop goal! he was limping and still made the one against France.
@Sam Harms: yeah you’re prob right but he should have come off. He was obviously struggling. It worked out though thankfully.
@Sam Harms: without getting too tribal and with my Irish hat on, Carbery can’t afford to have another season like he has just had if he has any aspirations on playing in the ten jersey for Ireland. I take your point on learning from Sexton but he also needs game time at club level, be it with Ulster or munster.
@Jim Demps: look at it this way, would Munster take Murray off in that situation unless they 100% had to?
@Jim Demps: Or Leinster.
@Sam Harms: Ireland wouldn’t take off Murray either. He’s absolutely vital, like Sexton.
@Sam Harms: I’m not criticizing the decision. I’m saying that Carbery needs to get game time in meaningful games, at ten , before the World Cup.
@Jim Demps: which he can, at Leinster. Munster have 3 flyhalfs already so if he does have to go anywhere it should be Ulster.
@Sam Harms: I get your point of view but neither Duncan Williams or James hart aren’t the back up 9 in the Irish squad so it’s not like for like –
If carbery is back up ten for his country he needs minutes or to be trusted as deputy for the club when the first choice is struggling , although I take no part in the debate as it’s a tricky situation , the Murrays value to Munster comparison just doesnt work
@Sam Harms: I think it’s all been decided anyway Sam. Once the season is over we will find out what the story with Carbery is. If I had to bet I’d say a season long loan to Ulster. If I had to decide myself I’d say a permanent switch to munster with Keatley going to Ulster.
While the game wasn’t the prettiest, it was an important win for Leinster in the grand scheme of things.
Something that popped into my head after the game was the 2011 World Cup final that New Zealand won 8-7 against France. New Zealand were obviously a quality team but hadn’t won in so long, much like Leinster. Much like Leinster, there was an argument for the French team outperforming their counterparts despite the odds.
For sure, this game was not a classic for the purists but in the grand scheme of things with an eye to future finals, I think Leinster will be happy to get the pressure of winning it again off their backs and play better as a result in the future.
@EK: totally agree. It should also be boted that while the highlights reel of their campaign won’t feature much more from Saturday’s match than the relief of a missed drop goal, it will still be a pretty glorious highlights reel featuring great attacking play against exclusively top class teams. The final itself was ground out, but it was raining and there were two teams with incredible defensive systems and a pernickety ref. We don’t have to worry about the quality of rugby Leinster are able to play.
@Conor Paddington: that’s very true Conor the official highlights vid is a joke , just the place kicks , not even how they happened . Nothing about possible yellows etc . I was at the game and Barnes was very frustrating , slow at blowing the whistle , lenient for card situations .. but he at least didn’t have any game changing errors . I’ll have to watch the game in full a couple of times on YouTube now . Overall Leinster looked quite comfortable and I was always confident they’d get the chances near the end . Let not forget Tales was dropping for a draw, I think Leinster would have had too much for Racing if it had gone into extra time