Lively Galway Youths secure place in the knock-out stages of Inter-League

Roscommon League 0 Galway League 3

Mike Rafferty

Three opening-half goals ended any lingering doubts about Galway’s ability as they comfortably saw off the hosts in Saturday’s FAI Youth Inter League clash in Lecarrow.

Following a 3-2 home win over the Clare League in their only other encounter, Brian Laffey’s charges required just a draw to top the group and qualify for the knock out stages.

They started impressively against a Roscommon side who had little to play for and an early Mark Gibbons corner crashed off the crossbar, before the winger swung in another set piece delivery that was headed home by Kieran Fahy on 17 minutes.

Galway doubled their advantage within minutes and again Fahy and Gibbons played a part as they combined to set up Brian Duhan, who rounded the goalkeeper before firing into an empty net. The game was as good as over as a contest just before the break when Duhan was upended in the box and Jason Lyons slotted home the resulting penalty.

On a heavy pitch, both sides struggled to make any inroads in the second half, but with Galway well in the ascendancy, they considered the job done as they strolled through to the knockout stages.

Galway made three changes to the starting eleven that saw off Clare as Diarmuid Fadden, Eric Neary and Brian O’Connell were promoted instead of Patrick Corcoran, Shane Nugent and Eric Gannon, while Duhan moved from midfield to a striking role and responded with his second goal in successive games.

The Tribesmen will be hoping to get a home draw in the quarter final, in a competition in which they have a good recent record.Galway: O’Malley, Neary, Fadden, Sergio, Lenihan, O’Regan, Gibbons, Fahy, Lyons, Duhan, O’Connell.

FAI JUNIOR CUPThe draw for the last 32 of the FAI Junior Cup sees the three remaining Galway sides heading to all ends of the country as all have being drawn away.

Boys Club must travel to Dublin where they will meet Trinity Corinthians, while Corrib Rangers face a shorter journey down the road to meet Broadford United in West Limerick. Athenry face the longest trip as they make their way to Donegal to meet Millford United. The ties are down for decision on the weekend of 14/15 January.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.