Galway Youth side qualify for semi-finals of FAI Inter League

Against all the odds, the Galway Youth side have qualified for the last four of the FAI Youth Inter League as a very under strength team registered a 2-1 win away to the Kildare League on Saturday afternoon.

The U-13 side also maintained their winning sequence as they defeated Longford 2-1 at Terryland Park in the Eurotab Cup.In the Airtricity U-19 League, substitute Dillon Murphy scored an unusual hat-trick as 10-man Mervue United came from two down to defeat Wexford Youths 3-2 in Fahy’s Field. Murphy played for the club’s U-17 side in the opening half of their league game against Maree/Oranmore and, after scoring two as the home side led by 3-0 at the break, he moved across Fahy’s Field to come on as a second-half substitute and snatch a dramatic winner.

Salthill Devon also had to come from behind as they eventually ran out very impressive 4-1 away winners over Bohemians.

Kildare League 1Galway League 2

With both Salthill and Mervue in League of Ireland U-19 action over the weekend, a lot of players were unavailable for selection for this Youth Inter League tie as they lined out with their clubs.

However, a hard-working side covered every blade of in their quest for victory and in the process they scored in each half to win with a fair degree of comfort.

Afterwards manager Brian Laffey couldn’t praise his charges enough as they overcame the home side to set up an away semi final against either DDSL or Waterford League.

Cathal O’Regan, who was magnificent throughout, set in motion the move for the opener on 23 minutes, as he fed Richard Fahy and it was Brian Duhan who applied the finish from a tight angle for a 1-0 lead.

The visitors made it 2-0 just after the restart when Duhan and Mark Gibbons provided the assists and Fahy applied a low finish to open up a gap.

Ironically the goal scorers were on the mark for the third game in succession, after earlier scores against Clare and Roscommon had helped secure wins on those occasions also.

While Kildare offered a greater threat in the closing stages, they found Eric Neary, Evan Browne, Caolan Malone and Dan Lenihan unyielding at the back, while O’Regan in central midfield maintained his work rate for the duration.

The home side did pull back a late consolation goal, but it never looked like it was going to effect the overall outcome as Galway held on for a merited win.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.