The Galway minor footballers secured a last four spot against Donegal in Croke Park on August 21 with a solid 3-10 to 0-12 victory over Laois in Tullamore last Saturday. Galway goalkeeper Cormac Haslam was in tremendous form for Stephen Joyce's charges and he made some top class saves to keep the O'Moore men at bay. It was fortunate for Galway that Haslam made those saves and that Laois were quite wasteful in front of goals or the game would have gone down right to the wire.
Galway looked dangerous in attack where team captain Desmond Conneely and Robert Finnerty linked up very well and hit 1-7 between them.
Galway led by 2-6 to 0-2 at half-time, with Finnerty and Evan Murphy raising the green flags.
Ryan Forde goaled after half-time too and their strong lead was maintained by some good defensive play and also some very poor scoring efforts by the Laois forwards.
Galway's opponents in the All-Ireland semi-final in three weeks time, Donegal had an impressive 2-13 to 0-13 to Cork in their All-Ireland quarter-final last weekend.
Scorers for Galway: E Murphy (1-3 ), R Finnerty (1-3, 1f ), D Conneely 0-4, R Forde 1-0.
Galway: C Haslam (Glenamaddy ), E Deeley (Salthill-Knocknacarra ), S Mulkerrin (Aran Islands ), F Garvey (Monivea-Abbey ), A Quirke (Annaghdown ), E McDonagh (Bearna ), L Kenny (Monivea-Abbey ), R Murphy (Bearna ), S Raftery (Glenamaddy ), F Ó’ Laoi (An Spidéal ), E Murphy (Salthill-Knocknacarra ), R Forde (Annaghdown ), R Cunningham (St Brendan’s ), D Conneely (Cpt ) (Moycullen ), R Finnerty (Salthill-Knocknacarra ).
Subs used: J Maher (Salthill-Knocknacarra ), S Thornton (Killanin ), L Boyle (Kilkerrin-Clonberne ), M Kerrigan (An Fhairche ) for Murphy, J Gavin (St Brendan’s ).
