Milltown finish in blaze of glory for stunning victory

Annaghdown 0-12

Gerard Mulreaney at Tuam Stadium

BOTH sets of supporters left Tuam Stadium on Saturday evening shaking their heads in astonishment. Milltown wondering how they came away with a win, and Annaghdown trying to figure out how they let the game get away from them, after an amazing finish saw the North Galway side emerge victorious by two points.

Despite ten points from Galway attacker Damien Comer, including six frees, Milltown would go on to score five unanswered points in the final ten minutes of the game to claim an unlikely two-point victory.

Both sides went into the game with two victories apiece, Annaghdown beating Naomh Anna Leiter Móir and An Spidéal, while Milltown also overcame the same opponents. Annaghdown now face an almighty battle to reach the quarter-finals, knowing they need to win when they take on the might of reigning champions Maigh Cuilinn in their final group game.

Milltown – who failed to get out of the group in 2022 – started brightly, and two points from Michael Martin, a free and a mark, gave them an early two-point lead.

Annaghdown – five-time winners of the Frank Fox Cup – scored their first point through their goalkeeper James Healy in the eighth minute when he kicked over a superb 45’.

In the 11th minute Milltown’s Liam Costello turned inside his marker Sean Forde but his attempt to handpass the ball over the bar was thwarted by the right-hand upright. Damien Comer then levelled the scores moments later from a free. Comer then set up Frankie Burke to give Annaghdown the lead.

A poor kick-out by Milltown goalkeeper Conor Nolan led to Annaghdown going two points in front, with Comer the beneficiary. However, Nolan redeemed himself shortly after when he denied Jack Dowd’s goal-bound effort.

Milltown then went up field and eked out a goal chance of their own, only this time they were successful. Michael McWalter raced down the left-hand side along with Ciaran Blake and Liam Costello beat his man to score past James Healy in the Annaghdown goal. Milltown extended their advantage to two points when goalkeeper Nolan kicked over a 45’.

Pictured: Milltown attacker Michael Martin is about to be challenged by Adam Heneghan of Annaghdown during Saturday's Senior Football Championship encounter at Tuam Stadium. Photo: David Cunniffe.