Early goals helps Dunmore MacHales get past Leitir Móir in round three of Galway SFC
Dunmore MacHales 4-12Naomh Anna Leitir Móir 3-10Dunmore MacHales laid the foundations for this SFC victory in an impressive opening half, with Barry Murray and Colm Costello, who struck twice – his second coming from the penalty spot – finding the net as Michael Halliday’s charges surged into a commanding 3-9 to 1-5 interval advantage in this SFC Group 3 encounter at Pearse Stadium on Saturday.
Dylan Seoighe’s first-half goal offered Naomh Anna Leitir Móir a foothold in the contest, but a 10-point deficit left the Connemara side with a considerable mountain to climb after the restart. They responded impressively, however, emerging with renewed purpose and taking the game to Dunmore, whom they held scoreless throughout the third quarter.
A tight squeeze on Dunmore MacHales’ defence saw possession overturned in their favour in the opening minutes of the second half, and from a resultant free, Oisín MacDonnacha converted his third dead ball.
Subsequent points from Tomas Ó Curraoin (free) and Dylan Seoighe in the third quarter was representative of a better showing, as Dunmore MacHales simply took their foot of the proverbial pedal.
Indeed, having been so savvy in the opening period, Halliday’s charges didn’t raise a flag again until the 49th minute. However, when the score did arrive, it was a thing of beauty as Jake Slattery fed Murray for his second goal of the tie.
Leading 4-9 to 1-8 coming down the home stretch, Dunmore MacHales just had to keep the scoreboard ticking over, and this they did through points from Slattery, Colm Costello and Padraig Costello.
To their credit, Naomh Anna Leitir Móir battled right to the finish, with a further 2-2 providing deserved reward for their persistence. Ó Curraoin converted a free and Fionn MacDonnacha also found the target, before Ó Curraoin twice made no mistake from the penalty spot following fouls on Dylan Seoighe and Oisín MacDonnacha in the 55th and 58th minutes respectively.
The latter infringement also resulted in Dunmore MacHales’ Sean Murray being shown a black card.
However, the outcome of the contest at this stage was not in doubt – and some might say that was the case after only 20 minutes when the North Galway outfit led 3-4 to 0-3. That could easily have been 4-4, only for referee Patrick Holohan to scrub off a Thomas Gleeson goal for over-carrying.
Despite this, Dunmore MacHales remained in complete control. After Shane McGrath opened the scoring with a neat point, Barry Murray netted his first goal on three minutes on the back of good work from Slattery, Brendan Carr and Padraig Costello.
Their second goal was netted 12 minutes later, after Dunmore MacHales were awarded a penalty for a foot-block and Colm Costello hammered home the subsequent spot kick.
Goal three followed shortly after: this time man of the match Matthew Redington, not for the first time, raided up-field and supplied Colm Costello with possession which the sharpshooter converted into a goal.
Padraig Costello (play and free), McGrath, who kicked a fantastic two-pointer earlier in the half, Dylan Brady, and Brendan Carr also registered points to leave the victors in a commanding position at the break.
Indeed, Dunmore’s only blemish from the first half was the concession of a 21st minute goal, with Dylan Seoighe catching the defence unaware and firing to the net. Eamon Ó Loingsigh, Oisín MacDonnacha (two frees) and Fionn MacDonnacha (2) contributed the five points in what was a poor showing by Naomh Anna Leitir Móir in the opening period.
While Alan Ó Murchú’s men are now bound for a relegation battle, Dunmore MacHales, as Group 3 runners-up, can look forward with optimism to their SFC preliminary quarter-final against Oughterard.
Dunmore MacHales: C. Gleeson; D. Forde, C. Comer, D. Brady (0-1); J. Slattery (0-1), M. Redington, R. Walkin; S. Murray, S. McGrath (0-4, 1tp); B. Carr (0-1), T. Gleeson, L. Murray (0-1); B. Murray (2-0), P. Costello (0-3, 1f), C. Costello (2-1, 1-0 pen.).
Subs: S. Mitchell for D. Brady, inj. (38 mins.); N. Rattigan for Slattery (57 mins.); Dylan Hannon for B. Murray (57 mins.)
Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir: C.T. Ó Flatharta; R. MacDonnacha, E. Ó Flatharta, M. Ó Cualáin; D. Seoighe, T. Ó Curraoin (2-2, 2-0 pen., 2f), C. Seoighe; M. E. Bairéad, O. MacDonnacha (0-3f); C. Ó Catháin, D. Seoighe, (1-1) F. MacDonnacha (0-3); W. Seoighe, P.S Ó Ceallaigh, E Ó Loingsigh (0-1).
Subs: I. Ó Curraoin for P.S Ó Ceallaigh (56 mins.).
Referee: Patrick Holohan.