Champs Moycullen survive a big fright in group opener

Claregalway 1-15

Pádraic Ó Ciardha at Pearse Stadium

MOYCULLEN got the defence of their senior championship title off to a winning start in Pearse Stadium last Saturday evening, but they were put to the pin of their collar by a Claregalway side who look like they might be ready to make the step forward that many have expected from them in the last couple of years.

In what was a cracking opening round contest, Moycullen’s extra experience told in the end. Claregalway made a decent fist of closing the five point gap that was between the sides at the final water break but some of Moycullen’s senior men popped up at the right time to hold their opponents off.

Claregalway can still take plenty of positives from the game, particularly considering they are missing a host of first-team players from the last couple of years, including the likes of Seán Moran and Danny Cummins. Moycullen, for their part, were missing Seán Kelly as the county star is still sidelined by the injury he picked up against Mayo in the Connacht final. Had he been available on Saturday, it’s unlikely Claregalway would have made such a fast start.

A slick attacking move through the Moycullen defensive lines resulted in Mark Slevin putting his side in front after two minutes before Claregalway had the ball in the net a minute later. Picking up possession on the left wing, Jason Reilly looked to cut in towards goal and while the forward spilled possession a couple of times, it actually worked to his advantage, unsettling the Moycullen defenders and allowing Reilly to steal in and fire past Séamus Friel and give Claregalway a dream start.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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