St. Michael’s 2-8

Dunmore MacHales 1-8

By DARREN KELLY AT TUAM STADIUM

Michael’s made a winning start to this year’s senior football championship at Tuam Stadium last Friday but were made work right up until the final whistle by last year’s intermediate winners Dunmore MacHales.

Goals from Darragh O’Malley and substitute Eoin Day secured Colm Tummon’s charges the two points in Group 3, but not before seeing a comfortable seven-point interval lead wiped away.

Despite having a penalty saved early in the second half, Dunmore refused to succumb to a 1-6 to 0-2 disadvantage, profiting from a loose pass from Jack Browne as keeper Tadhg O’Malley had ventured out the field and failed to win his race back to goal as Shane McGrath’s struck from 45 yards.

St. Michael’s were slight favourites but had seven changes from last year.  owever, they took the early initiative as Brian Harlowe converted a free on four minutes after a foul on influential midfielder Conal Gallagher.

The city side doubled their lead three minutes later through Shane Connaughton. Both teams held possession around the centre but didn’t relent from probing the opposing defence.

Colin Lyons and Dylan Brady assisted Thomas Gleeson from getting Dunmore off the mark on 11 minutes. And after the rain arrived five minutes later, All-Ireland winning minor Colm Costello turned inside after taking Jake Slattery’s pass to equalise at 0-2 apiece.

But Gary Delaney’s team went 19 minutes scoreless as St. Michael’s regain control. Another Harlowe free, thanks to a foul on David Cunnane, regained the lead before finding the net on 26 minutes.

Pictured: Conal Gallagher of St Michael’s breaking away from Joe Burke of Dunmore MacHales during Friday’s Senior Football Championship Group 3 tie at Tuam Stadium. Photos: David Cunniffe.