Galway youths get there at last

Galway League 3Wicklow League 1

Mike Rafferty at Drom

AFTER years of shortcomings and heartbreaking failure, last Sunday at Drom turned out to be a historic occasion as the Galway and District League claimed a first ever Umbro FAI Youth Inter League title when they defeated a Wicklow League side who were also chasing the same honour for the first time.

Throughout an unbeaten qualification campaign, Galway had been impressive and with a lot of seasoned performers in a settled side they were the better team on the day, but were made to fight every bit of the way to maintain a merited interval advantage.

Their preparations were not helped by five of the players having to play for Mervue United and Salthill Devon in their Airtricity First Division meeting the previous night, but all survived that to produce solid performances.

Two up at the break as Pa Huban and Mike Elwood got the minimum reward for a dominant wind assisted opening half, the resumption was a different story as the visitors enjoyed parity and although pulling a goal back on 67 minutes through Dara Verney, they could not get past an excellent Ronan Forde a second time.

Mind you, the home side made life difficult for themselves as a series of clear one on one situations were spurned and it took a late strike by Conor Murray to settle the nerves and put a more manageable gap between the sides.

Galway made the perfect start when opening their account on three minutes. Brian Conlon collected a Daryl Horgan lay off following a throw in and his cross was powerfully headed home at close range by Huban for a 1-0 lead.

The home side continued to threaten as Paul Scally and Gary Kelly bossed the midfield exchanges and the set piece deliveries of Dan Cunningham were a constant source of quality supply. Chances continued to go abegging as Elwood, Huban and Kelly all threatened, while Huban had an effort taken off the lime on 26 minutes.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.