Maigh Cuilinn 1-20

Shamrock Gaels 1-9

FREED from the familiarity of the Galway club football battleground, Maigh Cuilinn threw the shackles off in convincingly dismissing the challenge of Shamrock Gaels in the provincial quarter-final in Tubbercurry on Sunday.

In the club’s third Connacht campaign, the experienced Galway champions produced a high-tempo display which proved too much to handle for a gallant Sligo outfit that was ruthlessly dismantled in the closing quarter.

Trailing by just 0-14 to 1-8 in the 44th minute after lofting over three consecutive points and denied a goal by the outstretched boot of Maigh Cuilinn custodian Pierce Greally, Shamrock Gaels were still hanging on in front of a healthy crowd of around 2,000.

But that’s when Maigh Cuilinn, and ace marksman Dessie Conneely in particular, underlined the gulf in class and physique by subsequently outscoring the Sligo title holders by 1-7 to a single point to set up a semi-final clash with Leitrim Gaels at Pearse Stadium on Sunday.

Despite the quality exhibited and assembling a tally of 1-20 without registering a single two-pointer, Maigh Cuilinn will hardly be banging the drum about their All-Ireland credentials in coming through an assignment which probably about six other Galway clubs would also have managed.

Yet, there was an unmistakable bounce in the steps of the Maigh Cuilinn players. They have been here before and possess a greater awareness of what’s required to be done. The depth of their squad was again in evidence too, even without the unavailable Peter Cooke.

Having survived close shaves against both Tuam Stars and Salthill-Knocknacarra on their way to a third Galway title last month, Maigh Cuilinn flew out of the blocks against a team which had just captured a first Sligo crown since 1992 but, notably, had taken down reigning Connacht champions, Coolera-Strandhill in the county final replay.

Within nine minutes, Maigh-Cuilinn had opened a four-point lead with Niall Walsh on the forty quick to make an impression. He fired over a brace of points while Conneely registered from two routine frees. It was all one-way traffic and you feared this contest was going to be over with indecent haste.

David Wynne and Seán O’Connor were attacking relentlessly from the wing-back positions and Shamrock Gaels were clearly out of their comfort zone, but they stopped the rot in the 12th minute when county player Shane Deignan pointed after being set up by Daniel King.

For all their possession and territory, Maigh Cuilinn temporarily lost their way. At times, they were committing too many players forward and were almost getting in each other’s way; while several over-carrying offences as adjudged by Roscommon referee, Ian Monaghan, also proved frustrating.

Cathal Clancy’s team continued to pour forward and the excellent Fionn McDonagh picked off the first of his four points after rounding Karl McKenna, only for Maigh Cuillin to be rocked out of the blue midway through the half.

Pictured: Maigh Cuilinn’s Niall Walsh getting the better of Shamrock Gaels’ George Barlow during Sunday’s Connacht Club Senior Football quarter-final in Tubbercurry. Photo: Sean Lydon.