Galway Youths turn the screw in putting Mayo boys to sword

Galway League 6Mayo League 1

Mike Rafferty

SETTING a standard that will be hard to match in the future, the home side comfortably saw off their fellow group contenders in impressive fashion at Deacy Park on Friday night and, in the process, qualified for the quarter-final of the FAI Youth Inter League.

This was a game that could have produced a dozen goals or more, as loads of opportunities were created at both ends and despite the score line, Mayo were by no means a five goal inferior side.

Galway led by 1-0 at the break after Padraig Cunningham headed home a Dillon Murphy cross on 36 minutes. Richard Fahy also struck a post with a cracking effort from the edge of the box, while visiting goalkeeper Colm Reape made a series of saves that kept the contest alive.

That said, Mayo too had their opportunities as James Healy made a smart save to keep out a close range effort by Ray Nugent, while on 28 minutes, Liam Flatley fired wide when through with just the custodian to beat.

The foundation for the impressive Galway display came from central midfield where an athletic Richard Fahy was imperious, as the box to box player displayed a high level of skill and ability. Alongside him, Shane Connaughton was equally impressive with his neat and tidy passing a feature.

Out wide, Arron McDonagh and Dillon Murphy provided a plentiful supply to a front two of Ryan Manning and Padraig Cunningham and they certainly displayed their eye for a goal with their finishing.

Now if Galway struggled to get the better of Reape in the opening half, it didn’t take them long to make an impression on the resumption. On 46 minutes, Manning collected a Connaughton pass before making it 2-0 with a cracking drive from outside the area, but the striker was denied a second on 72 minutes when Reape dived to his right to keep out his penalty, after Cunningham was upended in the box.

However from the resulting corner, central defender Colin Brady headed the Shane Hulgraine set piece to the net from close range for a 3-0 advantage. After the visitors had spurned a few chances, Flately was reward for his impressive display as he pulled one back with a close range shot past Healy.

Despite the setback, the home side never looked like being overhauled and continuing to dictate matters, they added three late goals. A powerful Fahy run from the edge of his own area saw him set up Manning at the other end and the striker slotted home for a 4-1 advantage. Hulgraine then headed home a Fahy set piece, before Manning completed his hat trick when he cracked home a twenty five yard effort in additional time.

Galway League: J Healy, Neary, Fadden, P Healy, Brady, Fahy, Murphy (Hulgraine 67mins), Connaughton, Cunningham (Gleeson 74mins), Manning, McDonagh (Carroll 81mins).

Mayo League: Reape, O’Boyle, Howley, Ivers, Walsh (inj-Byrne 80mins), Moran, Dunne (Maloney 37mins), Murray, Jennings, Flatley, Nugent (Darcy 85mins).Referee: PJ Norman.

PREMIER LEAGUETwo early strikes laid the foundation for Mervue United as they saw off the Corrib Rangers challenge by 3-1 at Fahy’s Field on Saturday and, in the process, moved three points clear at the top of the Brod Trill Premier League.

Stephen Larkin cracked home the opener off the underside of the crossbar on just seven minutes and a neat finish by Dean McDonagh had them two up after 22.

Rangers made matters more competitive when a close range Ger Bane finish pulled one back before the break and while they enjoy a good restart, they failed to threaten a home side who were the more impressive performers on the day.

Adam Lee drilled home a low effort from the edge of the area on 72 minutes to kill off the contest and while the visitors never gave up, they seldom got a sight of O’Donoghue’s goal as the home defence reigned supreme.

With Gabriel Glavin getting his squad back towards full strength, competition for places is intense and the introduction of Alan O’Donovan at the interval on Sunday last had a major bearing as Athenry defeated OLBC by 5-1.

The Corofin native provided the assists for all four second half goals, as the home side overtook their rivals to move to third spot in the table.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.