The Galway senior football championship produced a highly competitive start, and with the second round of fixtures taking place this weekend, and the intermediate championship also starting, there is will be little rest for teams.
Group A
Corofin enjoyed a positive start to their campaign with a seven-point win over an Oughterard side determined for a better result than their last meeting in 2020.
Going with a much more defensive approach, Oughterard for most of the game were happy to keep everyone behind the ball and make sure Corofin did not get any goal chances. Corofin struggled with this at first, but after falling 0-4 to 0-1 behind. they led 0-8 to 0-4 at half-time and were aided greatly by the return of Gary Sice after a year out with injury and the late introduction of the returning Ian Burke.
The game finished 0-15 to 0-8 to Corofin, but Oughterard look capable of causing trouble for many sides with this new approach.
Elsewhere in the group, Tuam defeated Leitir Mor on a scoreline of 2-14 to 0-12 on Saturday, thanks to goals from Cormac McWalter and Mark Halleran and five points from Brian Mannion. On Sunday Moycullen looked in trouble when trailing An Spideal by four points in the second half, but they reeled off eight successive scores to lead by four, and then finished with a three-point win, 0-15 to 0-12.
Group B
In the first game of this year’s championship on Saturday afternoon St James’ were given an awful fright by An Cheathru Rua and needed a free in the 14th minute of injury time from Eoin Concannon to win 1-13 to 1-12.
County champions Mountbellew/Moylough started the defence of their title with a 2-13 to 0-13 win over Annaghdown. County star Patrick Kelly scored a goal in each half, with the returning Barry McHugh also showing his worth with a seven-point haul. On Saturday evening Salthill-Knocknacarra defeated Bearna in an entertaining game by 2-15 to 0-12, thanks to goals from Tomo Culhane and Seán O’Leidhinn.
Group C
In what is seen as the most competitive group in senior this year, Milltown enjoyed a dream start in the game of the weekend when defeating Killannin 4-18 to 3-12.
Michael Martin (2-5 ) and Eoin Mannion (1-4 ) combined to score 3-9 of their side's total and were fully deserving of their nine-point win, despite trailing by two at half-time.
St Michael’s defeated Claregalway on Saturday evening 1-9 to 1-5 to get their campaign off to a fine start with the goal coming from Dave Cunnane. In the other game in this group Caherlistrane won 1-10 to 0-10 against Monivea/Abbey with Alan Morris’s early second-half goal proving crucial.
This weeks fixtures:
Senior: Group A, Tuam v An Spideal - Kenny Park, Saturday 2pm; Corofin v Leitir Mor - Pearse stadium, Saturday 6.15pm; Moycullen v Oughterard – Pearse stadium, Sunday 3.45pm.
Group B, St James’ v Bearna – Pearse Stadium, Friday 7.30pm; Mountbellew/Moylough v An Ceathru Rua – Pearse stadium, Saturday 4,30pm; Annaghdown v Salthill-Knocknacarra – Tuam Stadium, 7pm.
Group C, Milltown v St. Michales – Kenny Park, Saturday 3.45pm; Claregalway v Caherlistrane – Tuam stadium, Saturday 5.15pm; Monivea-Abbey v Killannin – Pearse stadium, Sunday 2pm.
Intermediate: Friday: Corofin v Moycullen, Kenny Park 7.30pm; Kilkerrin/Clonberne v Headford, Tuam stadium 7.30pm. Saturday: Kilconly v St Gabriel's, Corofin 2pm; Oilean Arann v Killererin, The Prairie 2pm. Sunday: St Brendan’s v Caltra, Duggan Park 12pm; Oranmore-Maree v Michael Breathnachs, Moycullen 1pm; Dunmore v Williamstown, Tuam Stadium 4pm; Cortoon v Glenamaddy, Tuam Stadium 5.45pm.
Four more games will be live streamed in the Bon Secours Senior Football championship. Saturday, An Spidéal v Tuam Stars, Kenny Park, Athenry 2pm; Milltown v St Michael’s, Kenny Park, Athenry 3.45pm; Sunday, Monivea-Abbey v Killannin, Pearse Stadium, 2pm Oughterard v Maigh Cuilinn, Pearse Stadium, 3.45pm. The cost is €10 for a day Sstreaming pass option (covers both games ), while a season pass is €120 option (covers 24 games min. )Visit https://page.inplayer.com/galwaygaa/ for more information.
