Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty

The Oscar Traynor Cup is not a competition that has brought much joy to various Galway League teams over the years, but they will hope to change that this year when they get this year’s campaign underway on Sunday when they take on the Roscommon League in Lecarrow (2pm).

After a few disastrous years in which there was very little progress, Brendan O’Connor was appointed manager for a two-year term and last season certainly projected some optimism. The Galway League went through their group unbeaten with wins over Roscommon and Sligo-Leitrim and a draw against Mayo. However, their downfall came at the quarter-final stage with a 3-2 loss at home against eventual winners Waterford.

O’Connor has named a 25-man squad for Sunday’s game, with his selection coming from seven different clubs.

Galway League squad: Conor Winn, Liam Murray, Donnacha McNamara, Ger O’Riordan, Colm Whelan, and Gavin Smyth (Maree-Oranmore); Calym Crowe, Cathal Coyne, Timmy Molloy, and Enda Curran (Salthill Devon); Kieran McDonagh, Aidan Coyle, and Padraic Cunningham (Moyne Villa); Luke O’Gorman, Milo O’Malley, Tom Kidd, Oisin Coyne, Kody McCann, and Adam Healy (Mervue United); Nathan Ward, Jackson De Silva, Tom Daly, and Callum Browne (Colga); Adam Molloy (Athenry); Dylan Rees (Renmore).

PREMIER DIVISION

Salthill Devon 4

Craughwell United 0

The style of both sides was similar, but with years of proven ability at the top level, Salthill Devon were just better at the passing game in Drom on Friday evening as two goals in each half eased them to a comfortable success as they maintained their advantage at the top of the table.

They made the perfect start when Colin Kelly fired them ahead on six minutes and doubled their advantage on the half-hour mark when Enda Curran applied the finish for a 2-0 lead.

Visiting custodian Kyle Heverin played his part in keeping the outcome competitive, with a number of smart saves as his side mainly spent the half on the back foot.

To the credit of the newly promoted visitors – who have recorded two wins from their opening five games in the top flight – they did try to apply their own style on the game, but while their efforts were honourable, the majority of their attacking moments were broken up by a slick Devon side as Cathal Coyne, Calym Crowe, Timmy Molloy, and Marc Ludden sealed up the middle of the park.

A similar pattern emerged on the resumption, with the home side making it 3-0 on 62 minutes when substitute Cole Connolly picked up a Molloy pass and fired across Heverin into the far corner. As Darragh O’Connor, Gary Kelly, Ross Whelton and Kevin Molloy continued to impress for the visitors, they worked hard to stem the continuous flow of Devon attacks.

Heverin clawed an inswinging Ludden corner off the line, before the custodian made a smart save to deny Kelly. However, there was little he could do on 61 minutes when Princewell Diala set up Kelly in the box, and the striker duly fired home his second of the evening as the home side made it five wins in succession.

Salthill Devon: Mamala, Collins, Imudeia, Coyne, Crowe, Ludden, Fox, Molloy, Curran, Kelly, Murphy.

Substitutes: Diala, Scally, Connolly, O’Halloran, Baranyai, O’Rourke, Mulryan.

Craughwell United; Heverin, O’Connor, Geoghegan, Grealish, Kelly, Whelton, Molloy, Jackson, Mulveen, Sheil, Zimmerer.

Substitutes: Tuohy, Cunningham, McFarlane, McFadden, Wrage, Gallagher Collins.

Referee: Niall Crossby.

Pictured: The Salthill Devon squad that beat Craughwell United 4-0 in their Premier Division clash in Drom last Friday ngiht. Back row, from left: Timmy Molloy, Marc Ludden, Arek Mamala, Calyn Crowe, Cathal Coyne, and Enda Curran. Front: Colin Kelly, Mikey Fox, Churchill Imndeia, Alex Murphy, and Darren Collins. Photos: Iain McDonald.