Galway 3-19

Leitrim 2-11

By Kevin O’Dwyer in Cloone

GALWAY romped home in this opening round-robin game in the Connacht minor football championship played in Cloone last Friday

Dominant from the off, Galway led by 1-10 to 1-2 at half time. The winners controlled midfield through the partnership of Andrew Kehoe and Gavin Curran despite the best efforts of Jack Moolick for Leitrim.

Galway’s first goal came in the sixth minute when the Tribesmen won a kick out and an early ball into the heart of the Leitrim defence was claimed by full forward Daragh Costello, who blasted to the net. This gave Galway a 1-2 to no score lead and set them on the road to victory.

Leitrim did respond with a goal five minutes later, a loose ball on the 13 metre line  was rifled home by Thomas Gunn, making it 1-3 to 1-1 in favour of the boys in maroon.

By half-time all of the Galway forwards had scored while Leitrim’s two first half points came from frees, indicating the dominance of a Galway defence superbly marshalled by their man of the match, centre back Ciaran O’Donnell.

Galway continued to dominate on the resumption, adding a second goal on 45 minutes, with Joey Cullinane finishing off a fine team move involving Ciaran O’Donnell, Eoin Gacquin and Cillian McPhillips, They were now 2-14 to 1-3 ahead.

Galway then added four more points without reply to increase their lead, 2-18 to 1-3. A factor in the team’s midfield dominance was due to the accurate kick outs from goalkeeper, Evan Byrne, which led to several scores

Both management teams made substitutions, and this fractured the run of play, especially for Galway, with Leitrim finishing strongly as they outscored Galway 1-9 to 1-1 over the last ten minutes.

Galway’s third goal came from Andrew Kehoe again winning a kick out at midfield. He played a quick ball inside to Daragh Costello and his excellent pass saw Ciaran O’Donnell finish superbly.

Pictured: Galway minor football manager Neil McHugh who guided the team to an easy first round Connacht championship win over Leitrim in Cloone last Friday.