Sports
Annaghdown get job done at the second time of asking
Annaghdown 2-11
Oughterard 1-7
Annaghdown made no mistake at the second attempt when they convincingly won this replayed County Minor ‘B’ Football Championship final at Baile Dóite, Moycullen last Sunday against a gallant Oughterard side that played very well at times before fading in the final stages.
The winners seemed to have the title wrapped up at the break after going in with a 2-5 to 0-2 lead but a great fight-back by Oughterard, combined possibly with an assumption by the leaders that they could not be caught, contributed to a stirring rally by the youthful Os.
They went from that nine-point deficit at the beginning of the second half to a position where with 10 minutes remaining they were only two points adrift, 2-6 to 1-7, and back in contention in a big way. However they could not maintain that momentum and Annaghdown reasserted themselves to seal the title.
Apart from their uncertain period at the start of the second-half, the winners were the better side overall but the final scoreline does not do justice to a very spirited and hard working Oughterard team that was impressive at times but with inconsistent spells also.
It was a big test of character for Annaghdown when they saw their big lead dwindling as the second half wore on but they regained their composure at that stage and held their opponents scoreless for the rest of the game while they themselves reeled off five points to settle the issue.
Oughterard who had to line out without midfielder Jack Geoghegan who had been red-carded in the drawn match were good at times but were blowing hot and cold all through. They got two points in the opening six minutes of the match but failed to raise a flag for the rest of the half while they managed 1-5 in the 20 minutes after the break but were unable to score again.
In fairness to them they never stopped trying from start to finish, showing plenty of endeavour and no little skill. They were unlucky also to be meeting a very mobile, well organised Annaghdown outfit.
Oughterard did well in the early stages and grabbed a 0-2 to 0-1 lead through scores by Eric Lee and James McMahon whose points sandwiched a neat effort by Annaghdown’s Peter Lynch but they were prevented from building a bigger lead by the fiercely determined Corrib-side defence where Mike Naughton and the outstanding Pierce Glynn were particularly effective.
Annaghdown gradually took over with team captain Michael Devanney and Enda Callanan breaking even with opposite numbers James McMahon and Fred Kenny at midfield. The real nightmare from an Oughterard point of view was the running from deep of speedy centre-forward Ryan Forde who split the Oughterard defence time and again earning several frees for his team and a number of yellow cards for his opponents.
It was by no means a one-man forward line and all six starting attackers scored for the winners. Peter Lynch, Adam Quirke especially and Conor Maloney constantly threatened danger in the half line as did corner men Darragh Fahy and Eoin Curry although Eoin’s free-taking was, by his high standards, erratic but it was he who killed off the Os challenge late on by driving over two crucial 45s.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty
Four teams are vying for promotion to the Premier Division, and with University of Galway, Loughrea, Dynamo Blues, and Colemanstown United all having played each another twice, there is no room for error as they play out the last few games of the campaign.
Loughrea are in pole position, but the chasing pack all have games in hand as they try and reel in the table toppers. All four were winners over the weekend, with three of the games decided by just a single goal.
Elsewhere, the draw for the last eight of the Connacht Junior Cup took place as four Galway League teams remain in the competition. Athenry will be pleased to have drawn a Cois Fharraige side who caused a huge upset when defeating West United in the last round, but it would be an even bigger shock if the Division One outfit were to prevail on this occasion.
Two Galway sides head to Mayo for their ties and Mervue United will fancy their chances against a Westport United B side who defeated Colga B 4-2 at the weekend. It will not be as comfortable for University of Galway who will meet Castlebar Celtic; while Cloonfad and Strand Celtic meet in the remaining tie. The games are scheduled to be played on April 9.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Knocknacarra 0
University of Galway 1
Just a month ago these two sides played out a scoreless draw in Dangan and in the reverse fixture at Cappagh park on Sunday, little separated the sides once more, before a Stephen Gilmore goal on the hour mark settled a contest played in dreadful conditions.
With every point crucial to the Students in their quest to remain in the promotion shake up, they were mainly the better side, but also had to endure some anxious moments as the home side always offered the potential of a breakthrough.
However, their opportunities were more limited than the College side, with just a Marc Lucero effort that struck the woodwork the closest they went to a breakthrough.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
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Galway 1-14
Dublin 0-9
Eanna O’Reilly at Duggan Park
THE Galway senior camogie team recorded their third victory of the National League campaign, with a straightforward success over a limited Dublin side on Saturday in Ballinasloe. This expected win puts Galway in with a chance of qualifying for the league final. To do so, the Tribeswomen must overcome Cork on Saturday in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Galway lined out against Dublin without injured duo Siobhán Gardiner and Niamh Hanniffy, while Niamh Niland (Clarinbridge) and Laura Kelly (Salthill-Knocknacara) made their first starts for the senior team. The Tribeswomen made good use of the wind in the opening quarter and raced into a 0-5 to 0-0 lead.
Carrie Dolan pointed an early free, followed by a ’45 to get the scoreboard ticking. Laura Kelly then sent over an impressive score from the left wing. Two minutes later, Dublin had a goal chance, but Aishling O’Neill was superbly hooked by Shauna Healy. Galway quickly worked the ball forward to Ailish O’Reilly, who added a neat point.
Carnmore midfielder Jennifer Hughes soon fired over another score for the home side, after a strong run. Dublin were already chasing a five point lead but opened their account in the tenth minute with a point from Gaby Couch.
Two minutes later, Aisling Maher sent over Dublin’s second score, before Dolan replied with an excellent point at the other end, after a good pass from Hughes. Maher pointed a free to make it 0-6 to 0-3, but the home side soon struck for 1-2.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
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The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
THE frankly bizarre nature of the URC schedule came into focus again this week as the league is set to resume after a two-week break for the Six Nations championship with Connacht welcoming Edinburgh to the Sportsground on Saturday (3pm).
The league might be entering the business end of the campaign, but the last few weeks has felt like more like pre-season preparation than a final push for glory, with Saturday’s game set to be only the third game in eight weeks for Connacht.
“After the Christmas period, it is kind of stop-start. Yeah, you probably do get a bit bored with training, you are looking forward to playing a game, and now we have back-to-back games which lets you get a bit of momentum,” Connacht centre, Tom Farrell, said in the media briefing this week ahead of this Saturday’s tie.
Connacht go into the game on the back of three consecutive wins – 22-20 away to Dragons, 57-34 away to Zebre, and 43-24 at home to the Lions – but it is hard to take any momentum from those games considering they were three, five, and eight weeks ago respectively.
Any momentum they might have had from that winning run will have been hit with the injury list issued this week that is nearly as long as the list of those players who are available. Grand Slam heroes Bundee Aki and Mack Hansen have yet to return to the province, while Finlay Bealham is out for at least a month with a knee injury.
He’ll have plenty of company in the treatment room as Denis Buckley (ankle) and Jack Carty (hamstring) have both been ruled out for this weekend; Josh Murphy (head) is following concussion GRTP protocols and is unavailable for selection this week; and Conor Fitzgerald has had surgery on his ankle and is out for the remainder of the season.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
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