The Galway footballers kick started their 2023 campaign with a comfortable win over Leitrim in the Connacht Centre of Excellence on Friday evening.
The 3-21 to 1-13 win over Andy Moran’s side now sends Galway forward to face Mayo in this weekend’s FBD semi-final.
Galway started this game with plenty of experience on the field, including five All-Ireland final team players. Most notable was the return of goalkeeper Bernard Power and forwards Ian Burke and Barry McHugh.
Burke and McHugh took no time at all settling back into a maroon jersey with the first score coming in the opening moments - Burke winning the free and McHugh, as usual, hitting the target.
Burke, as expected, was involved in most of the scores in the first half, notably taking a quick side-line ball to play Finnerty through for the opening goal, while also bundling the ball over the line himself to help give Galway a 13-point lead at the break. The Galway full forward line of McHugh, Finnerty and Burke notched 2-8 of their side's 2-12 in the first half.
As expected, the game faded slightly as a contest with multiple substitutions, but with all Galway players introduced eager to make their mark. Dylan Canney, brought on as a forward, caught a high ball on his on 21-metre line, while also kicking a fine score. Brian Mannion won a penalty and scoring a point, while Tomo Culhane, Paul Conroy, Evan Murphy and Nathan Grainger, also made scoring appearances.
Finnerty, however, was the star of the show, kicking 2-7, of which 1-4 came from play while Galway players were solid throughout the field. Power impressed in goal and will be looking to give Gleeson some competition for his position, Johnny McGrath impressed in his first chance to stake a claim for Liam Silke’s position, and U20 footballer Daniel Flaherty scored a fine first-half point after a strong run.
This weekend’s game against Mayo is surely too early for the returning Dunmore and Moycullen players, who deserve at least a week off after their long club season ended last weekend.
This will give players a second chance to impress manager Padraic Joyce before Galway’s return to division one in the National League begins in McHale Park against the same opposition in a fortnight’s time.
The Air Dome in Bekan is currently getting some great use, hosting both the hurling development league and the FBD matches, showing the benefits of an all-weather surface especially in the winter months.
When the FBD games played at the venue in 2022, there was a crowd limit of 200, but without these restrictions 1200 patrons made it inside the dome. With only 500 of these seated, it shows the potential to accommodate several thousand.
