Extra time agony for minor footballers again

Galway 2-11

STEPHEN GLENNON AT HYDE PARK

For the second consecutive year, the hearts of Galway’s minor footballers were broken in extra-time of another absorbing Connacht semi-final – although, on this occasion, the margin of defeat was more substantial as the young Tribesmen were outscored 2-2 to 0-2 in the additional period.

Last year, it was Roscommon who edged out Galway by two points in extra-time in a contest many felt Galway could – and should – have won given they had held the upper hand for long stretches of the fixture.

Taking leave of Hyde Park on Sunday, you could have made the same assertion, particularly as they had momentum going into the two 10 minute periods of extra-time. Although rocked by a 58th minute Mayo goal, netted by wing forward Cian Hanley, John Donnellan’s charges showed a great deal of character to tally three unanswered points in the dying minutes to salvage a draw.

All of those scores came from lively Ballinasloe full-forward Eoin McCormack – two frees and a 45 – with the equaliser converted following a foul on corner forward Paul Mannion in the third minute of injury-time. At 2-9 to 3-6, it certainly was an exciting finish to the 60 minutes plus of fare.

When Oughterard’s Niall Lee gave Galway – now buzzing all over the field – the lead point in the first period of extra-time, it looked as if the Connacht League champions would close out the victory but, not for the first time, they subsequently retreated into their collective shell and allowed Mayo back into the contest.

Consequently, as the first period of extra-time wore on, Mayo began to get a stranglehold of the game and although their free-taker Liam Irvin was guilty of missing two simple frees, the victors well and truly had Galway under the cosh.

Still, it was somewhat of a surprise when centre-forward Conor Loftus ghosted in to punch a Conor Byrne delivery to the net on 69 minutes for Mayo’s fourth goal and, to some degree, this underlined the problems Galway goalkeeper James Healy and his defence had throughout under the high ball.

Galway were only two points behind heading into the final 10 minutes of extra-time – plenty of time to make amends again – and within seconds of the restart Mannion was unlucky to have a goal effort stopped on the line and forced out for a unconverted ‘45.