The Galway senior football championship kicked off last weekend with some exciting games.
The two standout matches of the weekend were both played in Kenny Park on Sunday afternoon. Claregalway v Tuam Stars, and Maigh Cuilinn v Dunmore MacHales both ended with one point wins and some cracking football was played.
Group 1
Salthill Knocknacarra and Mountbellew Moylough opened the senior championship on Saturday afternoon, and the sea-siders edged it with a 0-9 to 0-7 win. Finian Hanley’s side were expected to win this comfortably and a combination of inclement weather and a determined performance from Val Daly’s side stopped Salthill from ever being fully in control of this game.
Galway U20 captain Matthew Thompson was prominent for his side with four points from play across the hour, and despite Barry McHugh’s best efforts his side just couldn’t reel the opposition back in.
The second game of this group also took place on Saturday afternoon, but in Pearse Stadium. Leitir Mór took on Caherlistrane in an entertaining game where Leitir Mór showed both their attacking abilities and their defensive frailties. Leitir Mór’s full forward line of Dylan Seoige, Oisín Mac Donnacha and Fionn Mac Donnacha combined to score 0-9 for their side, causing all sorts of trouble for the Caherlistrane back line, who appeared for some reason to leave Johnny McGrath as a sweeper.
The Connemara side constantly looked a threat going forward but at times looked out of their depth in defence. Caherlistrane to their credit never gave up, scoring seven of the last eight scores. But Leitir Mór ended the game as deserving nine point winners, 2-15 to 0-12.
Group 2
The second game in Tuam Stadium on Saturday was newly promoted Monivea-Abbey vs St. James’. The Jimmies came flying out of the blocks and went into a 0-7 to no score lead in the opening 20 minutes, with Sam O’Neill and Paul Conroy showing the way for their side. Bunt Roche’s team finally got on the scoreboard thanks to a free from Glenn Kelly. Kelly put over a second just before the break to leave five between the sides.
The game changed soon after the break when Matthew Mulvaney received a straight red card. Monivea-Abbey came roaring back into the game with a goal for the impressive Glenn Kelly minutes later, and could easily have taken the lead but kicked four shots wide in a row. St. James’ took the lead late on but Kelly again came to the rescue for his side with a last minute equaliser. The game ended 1-7 to 0-10.
Maigh Cuilinn and Dunmore closed out the weekend with a thrilling match in Kenny Park. Playing with the elements in the first half, Dunmore Machales took a deserving nine point lead into the break thanks to a goal from Thomas Gleeson and a fantastic free from half way from Connor Gleeson just on the stroke of half-time. Maigh Cuilinn looked at sea at times, and Gary Delaney’s side were causing huge issues for a side missing the influential Seán Kelly.
Maigh Cuilinn came out a different side after the break, continually running at the Dunmore defence who looked like they could cave under the pressure. The 2022 Intermediate champions struggled at times with the onslaught, but still pressed on when they could. It took until the 25th minute of the second half for Dunmore MacHales to register their first score, and they scored three more before the end of the game. It was three second half goals that dragged the 2023 beaten finalists over the line to eke out a one point win, 3-7 to 1-12.
Group 3
Reigning champions Corofin took on Oughterard in their opener, in what was a very dull game. Corofin played with the elements in the first half, and took a 0-8 to 0-2 lead into the changing rooms against an ultra-defensive Oughterard side. Oughterard didn’t press up enough in the second half and Corofin didn’t need to force the issue.
Kevin Johnson’s side allowed Oughterard back into the game, and in the 60th minute a game of football finally threatened to break out. Alan Kelly’s side had wrestled the game back to just two points, and full forward Ryan Monaghan burst through and forced a fine save from Bernie Power. Oughterard sensed a weakness in the Corofin rear guard and started to pepper some balls into the large rectangle.
Corofin dealt well with this and caught them on the break twice to ease to a four point win, 0-12 to 0-8.
Elsewhere in group 3, Tuam Stars and Claregalway played out an entertaining game on Sunday. Claregalway just about deserved their 1-12 to 1-11 win. Claregalway pressed high at every chance to put Tuam under pressure, and the Stars went in just two points ahead despite playing with the wind.
Claregalway came out for the second half all guns blazing and continued their high press, regularly leaving goalkeeper Conor Flaherty marking a player to get an extra player pushed up high on the Tuam kickouts. This paid dividends in the 34th minute of the match when Mark Rohan drilled home a fine goal before two Barry Goldrick points from play and three Nathan Grainger frees put Claregalway in full control. Paddy Finnegan’s side didn’t help themselves as they continued with the high press at five points up, leaving themselves open at the back.
Jamie Murphy soon entered the fray and took full advantage of this. He scored a goal in the 54th minute and caused havoc for the Claregalway defence. Trailing by just one point in the final minute, Tuam’s Dara Heneghan will be cursing himself after taking two hops when bearing down on goal - and a chance to equalise or win the game for his side went astray.
Group 4
Milltown V Killannin and Annaghdown v Bearna closed out the weekend in Pearse Stadium. Last season's surprise package Milltown showed they mean business again this year, with a 1-13 to 0-11 win over Killannin - despite losing Mark Hehir to a red card early on in the second half. Jimmy Lyons side outscored their opponents 0-10 to 0-3 in the second half to put themselves in pole position to qualify top of their group.
The second game in the group saw the return to form of Damien Comer. The county player finished with 1-4 from play to his name. A nip and tuck game meant that a green flag for either side would be crucial, and Comer’s goal in the 58th minute put his side three up with just minutes to play. A Johnny Creaven point sandwiched between two for Bearna saw out the game for Annaghdown, who will now play Milltown in the second round. Meanwhile, it will be a must-win game for both Bearna and Killannin when they face off next weekend.
Intermediate results:
Group 1
St. Brendan’s 0-08 Clifden 1-13
Kilconly 1-12 Oileáin Árann 0-07
Group 2
An Spidéal 0-09 St. Gabriel's 0-10
Corofin 2-13 Williamstown 0-05
Group 3
Menlough 1-09 Glenamaddy 3-09
St. Michael’s 0-19 Oranmore-Maree 2-16
Group 4
Caltra 2-13 Michael Breathnach 0-12
Cortoon Shamrocks 3-09 Kilkerrin/Clonberne 0-14
