Sports
Leitir Móir advance after tight struggle in Salthill
Leitir Móir 1-12
Caltra 0-13
A 62nd minute free from Daithí Mac Donnacha put the seal on a two-point victory for Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir over Caltra. It was a tidy and decent game of football, and there was very little difference in terms of quality between the sides, but the old adage that goals win you Gaelic football matches proved true in Pearse Stadium on Sunday evening last.
The game’s sole goal arrived courtesy of Mac Donnacha in the 33rd minute, and it was the crucial score of the game. Caltra had two goal opportunities fall away in the final 10 minutes, and as much as Meehan’s excellent conversion rate kept them chipping away at the deficit, they couldn’t bulge the back of the Leitir Móir net.
Of the 1-25 registered between both teams, 0-17 of that total was scored from placed balls – Leitir Móir 0-8 and Caltra 0-9. Mac Donnacha, Ferdia Breathnach and Cormac Ó Conghaile shared the responsibilities for Leitir Móir, while Brian Laffey hit two and Meehan seven from placed balls. The large number of frees awarded tells us something about how the game was refereed though.
Some of Shane Hehir’s calls seemed harsh on occasions for both sides, and any backchat from the players saw frees being moved forward or the decision overturned. As Tyrone will know this week, talking back to the officials is never beneficial, and a scoreable free 20 yards out from goal given to Caltra in the 37th minute was overturned in favour of a hop ball because of that.
A score for Caltra would have helped stem the momentum Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir had built up by that stage. The winners’ greater physicality around the middle third began to tell in the third quarter as Antoine Toto Ó Gríofa, Eamonn Ó Loinsigh, Padraic Bairéad and Ferdia Breathnach used their size to good effect. Another factor which aided Leitir Móir’s chances of victory was the absence of Cathal and Padraig Mannion from Caltra’s starting 15.
The duo have the pressing matter of an All-Ireland hurling final to prepare for on Sunday week, but it was heartening all the same to see them on the sideline acting as water carriers for the Caltra team. Both of them are excellent footballers also. Cathal scored 0-4 and Padraig 0-2 against Kilkerrin/Clonberne in the opening round of the championship back in May.
Without them, most of the scoring burden for Caltra fell on the lofty shoulders of one Michael Meehan. He scored 0-9 of Caltra’s final tally, and although Meehan may have lost a yard of pace, his enduring class remains, and a point after four minutes from play perfectly demonstrated just that.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht 32
Cardiff 17
Rob Murphy at the Sportsground
THE Cardiff players were strewn across the pitch, faces buried in the Sporstground soil. Alex Wootton had just made their lives a misery for a second time in a blistering five minute spell and a game that was very much within their grasp had suddenly disappeared off into the distance. That was the scene in first-half injury time on Saturday evening as Connacht cut loose with a burst of brilliance.
Wootton now has ten tries in 13 appearances, an astonishing return from his first season in the green of Connacht. Munster’s loss is very much Andy Friend’s gain it seems. It helps too that there’s a backline orchestrator in the shape of Jack Carty who is playing at the very top of his game with one all encompassing display after another in recent months. The Irish door isn’t opening, but he keeps on knocking away.
But back to those Cardiff defenders, they were crestfallen at half time and positively dejected by full time. For most of the contest their team seemed to be in the ascendency in terms of possession and territory, but Connacht held all the aces when it came to the level of additional quality needed to be a serious contender in this competition. There’s no shame in being second best but the Welsh regions do struggle with the concept.
The Connacht coach has injuries to concern him but nothing overwhelming, Tom Farrell is probably the first choice centre for example and he’s out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury, Quinn Roux would start most big games but we learned this week a neck injury will keep him out until April, while Denis Buckley started this game on the bench. So this was pretty much a full strength side.
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.
MICHAEL Moloney is a pragmatist. He’s not a hostage to pipedreams or fanciful thoughts ignoring reality. He doesn’t build up false hope and plays a straight bat.
The Galway Racecourse General Manager knows the odds are currently against punters flocking through the Ballybrit turnstiles for this summer’s annual seven-day racing festival, but he is not without hope that circumstances may change.
“As it stands, the only public health guidelines we are working off is that there will be no gatherings of over 50 people before September. That’s what the Tániste Leo Varadkar said a couple of weeks ago.”
That conclusion gives Galway little wriggle room at present, but with the 2021 festival still five months away – it starts on Monday, July 26 – local stakeholders are keeping their fingers crossed that the overall Covid-19 picture will be much better by then.
Whatever way the cards fall in relation to mass gatherings at sporting events by late summer, Moloney emphasises that Galway Racecourse will be ready to respond quickly to any improved scenario.
Ahead of last year’s festival, Moloney admitted that Galway was heading into the unknown with the meeting being staged behind closed doors and Ballybrit set to be devoid of the atmosphere it has become famous for.
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.
A city-based doctor has become the second person in the country to be named as a Bike Like Me advocate as part of a campaign by Cycling Ireland to inspire more women and girls to discover cycling and feel confident on their bikes.
Susan Kennelly (42), who lives in the city centre, is a member of Galway Bay Cycling Club and is the second of six Bike Like Me advocates to be announced as part of the campaign.
Currently battling breast cancer, she says she has found solace in being able to jump on her bike and take to the roads, saying that putting on her cycling helmet and cycling gear allowed her to feel the same as everyone else and boosted her morale in her own health battle.
“Particularly this year I really appreciated how normalising cycling could be. I had no hair because of chemo, no eyebrows or eyelashes and had lost weight but hopping on a bike with my helmet and cycling clothes meant I really looked no different to anyone else,” she says.
Why did you start cycling?
After stepping down from competitive rowing after several years I wanted something that would keep me physically active but without the same training commitment as rowing.
A friend suggested I join Galway Bay Cycling Club and I instantly knew this was right for me! I loved getting out in the open air and the sense of comradery and security with group cycling but at the same time I didn’t have to worry about letting a crew down if I couldn’t make a spin.
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.
33 new COVID-19 cases in Galway, nationally 612 and 6 further deaths
Ballinasloe Councillor welcomes additional resources to tackle widespread illegal dumping
NUI Galway researchers caution over retrofitting and radon
Public are reminded that the deadline for submissions on the Galway to Athlone Cycleway is tomorrow
Headford Councillor welcomes decision on construction of community facility at Moyne Villa
Connacht Tribune tributes to loved ones
Gardaí seek help in tracing man missing from Galway City
Gardaí in Salthill seize €26,000 cash and €5,000 worth of drugs
Galway man home after 42-day battle with pneumonia and Covid – for his 93rd birthday
Fresh take on the Claddagh ring gives a helping hand!
