The second round of the Claregalway Hotel Galway Senior Football Championship produced thrills and spills aplenty for the increased crowd numbers.
In group one Kenny Park was the venue for St James’ and Cortoon, where the north Galway side started the brighter through the left boot of Martin Boyle. However the form of Paul Conroy, who top scored for St James’ with 1-06, was the platform for their win on a final scoreline of 3-13 to 1-1. Cortoon lost the game in a 21-minute period when they failed to get on the scoreboard.
Tommy Carton’s Tuam Stars eventually overcame a dogged Killanin side 2-15 to 1-12 despite trailing at half-time by two points.
Tuam should have been well clear of their opponents as they missed three gilt-edged goal chances in the first half which, if converted, would have put them in an unassailable position. However, Tuam stalwarts Gary O’Donnell and Jamie Murphy grabbed their goals and were at the forefront of most of Tuam’s good play.
Group two games threw up one of the shocks of the weekend as Milltown produced a superb performance to draw with Mountbellew-Moylough 0-13 to 1-10, and they could have grabbed the two points.
The game, however, was blighted with incidents and a total of five black cards were shown, three for Milltown and two for the men in black and amber. Milltown thought they had won it late on as Eoin Mannion struck off his right, only for Patrick Kelly to equalise deep into injury time to rescue a point for his side.
Also in the group, St Michael’s and An Spideal met, with the Westside based club prevailing 2-09 to 0-12. It was a crucial victory for Colm Tummon’s men as it still gives them every chance of advancing from the group.
St Michael’s were in control at half-time, leading by five points, but a Joseph McNicholl black card at the beginning of the second half allowed An Spideal back into the game. Antaine O’Laoi led the fightback to bring his side back level, but when substitute Brian Harlowe netted soon after for Michael’s, they managed the game effectively to seal their victory.
Group three produced the most hotly anticipated clash of the weekend as Annaghdown met Moycullen in Pearse Stadium. The reigning champions were forced to start the clash without key players Gareth Bradshaw and Peter Cooke, while Don Connellan’s side showed their strength in depth to lead the game 0-09 to 1-05 at half-time.
However, vital score came for Moycullen in the 22nd minute of the second half as Neil Mulcahy raised a green flag for his side, and they managed to withstand a late Annaghdown rally to win 1-12 to 1-11.
In the group game Claregalway faced an uphill task against An Cheathru Rua when they lost corner back Dara Whelan with a red card early in the first half. However, they never really looked like losing the game as Barry Goldrick and Lorcan Molloy goals helped them to a 2-10 to 2-07 win.
Corofin still stand top of group four after easing to victory over Caherlistrane 2-14 to 0-09 and effectively sealed their place in the quarter-final on to scoring difference.
One of the shocks of the weekend was in Kenny Park where Monivea-Abbey grabbed a late Brian Moran goal to nick a 1-09 to 0-10 victory. This result leaves the Seasiders on no points after two games, ending any hope of a championship run for them.
The final game of the group saw Barna oust Oughterard 3-10 to 0-15. This game was closely fought for the duration of the contest until the final quarter when Conchúr Ó’Chiaráin and Oisin Gormally fired two goals in quick succession in the final quarter for Sean Conlan’s men. These results leave the outcome of group four firmly in the balance heading into the final round of fixtures.
