The Galway minor footballers failed in their bid last Sunday to win the county’s first Connacht minor title since 2007.
They were comprehensively defeated by an impressive Roscommon side by 1-9 to 0-6, and they can have no complaints after producing a disappointing performance.
Galway got off to a good start when wing-back Cathal Mulryan pointed, but that was to prove a false dawn as Roscommon took over and were dominant in most positions throughout the game. Galway only managed one score in that first half and their much-vaunted attack never got to grips with the game at all.
Watching recognised defender Adrian Nolan, who was picked at wing-forward, being taken off in the first half and being brought back on at half time as a defender, did not help the maroon cause either and it was a poor use of two substitute slips.
The Rossies looked bigger and stronger in many positions and held an ace in Thomas Corcoran at midfield, who scored 0-4 from frees. The Strokestown player was impressive and Galway found it hard to get any joy around the middle quarter.
Despite playing against the conditions, Roscommon stormed into the lead. The defining score of the game came seven minutes before half time when Corcoran powered through to set up full-forward Enda Lannon to goal.
The home side led by 1-4 to 0-1 at the small whistle and, with the wind at their backs, they were never likely to be reined in.
Galway did pick up a little after the break and points from Shane Walsh, Conor Rabbitte and Shane Maughan gave Tommie Joyce’s outfit a flicker of hope.
It was quickly doused, though, and Roscommon hit back with a few swift scores to seal their first minor title since 2006 when the side, managed by current senior boss Fergal O’Donnell, went on to win the All-Ireland title, beating Kerry after a replay.
Roscommon CBS also won the All-Ireland B title this year and it reflects well on the work being done at under-age level in the county.
All is not lost for the Galway lads if they pick themselves up from this defeat quickly. They face Cavan in the All-Ireland quarter final in Pearse Park, Longford on Saturday week (3pm ).
Cavan won their first Ulster minor title in 37 years when they beat Armagh last Sunday in Clones. Armagh had been the pre-game favourites, but Cavan held them scoreless for the entire second half to grab a famous victory.
This Galway outfit has much more potential and talent than was shown last weekend, but they will have to prove that or all their hard work over the past few months will have been in vain.
The county u-21s showed what they could produce in Croke Park when they defeated Cavan in the All-Ireland final and it is now up to the minors to follow that example.
Galway: C Gleeson; L Silke, J Shaughnessy (cpt ), C Cunningham; E Walsh, G Canavan, C Mulryan (0-1 ); S Geoghegan, S Moran; P Glynn, I Burke, A Nolan; C Rabbitte (0-1 ), S Maughan (0-3, 0-1 free ), S Walsh (0-1 ). Subs: J Kelleher for Nolan (23 ), Nolan for Geoghegan (h/t ), T Comer for Cunningham (48 ), C Timon for Mulryan (48 ), G Kelly for Walsh (52 ).
