Milltown get the job done in big victory over Barna in round three of Galway SFC

A very poor performance from Barna-Furbo saw them fall to their second championship defeat, which pushed them into third place in the final group standings. Ger Butler’s side will now have to overcome Claregalway in order to reach the last eight.

A nightmare first half saw Barna-Furbo fail to register a score until well into injury time. Milltown could hardly have expected to have a 0-9 to 0-0 late in the opening half, but that was how it transpired in Athenry.

Playing with the wind, Godwin’s charges dominated an opening quarter which took a while to get going. Michael Martin (free), Niall Costello, and Liam Costello sent over early points for Milltown, before Terry Godwin’s two pointer made it 0-5 to 0-0.

Barna-Furbo were struggling to generate any scoring chances and also found it difficult to contain Milltown’s attack at the other end. Liam Costello soon had his second point for the North Galway side, before his brother Dara registered his first.

When Mark Hehir landed a score five minutes later, it left Milltown ahead by 0-8 to 0-0. Barna-Furbo simply weren’t at the pitch of the contest, as demonstrated when Martin played a quick ’45 to a completely unmarked Godwin, who sent over his second score from the right wing.

Butler’s charges finally registered their first score two minutes later when Charlie Friel set up Donncha Naughton, who fisted over a point. Shortly after, Seán Dunne pointed from the left wing, after a pass from Pádraic Lenihan.

It left the half time score at 0-9 to 0-2, and Barna-Furbo having a mountain to climb. Despite playing against the wind in the second half, Milltown made the better start when the play resumed. Two quick scores from Godwin and Dara Costello pushed their lead out to nine points.

Seán Dunne reduced the margin with an excellent two pointer at the other end. The sides soon exchanged scores through Eoin Mannion (free) and Jack Walsh, to leave Milltown 0-12 to 0-5 ahead by the 43rd minute.

Barna-Furbo needed a spark, but it was their opponents who continued to dominate the play. Milltown found another gear and tallied six unanswered points during the next 15 minutes. Eoin Mannion (four, three frees), and Martin (two, one free) made their dominance count on the scoreboard as they pulled away emphatically.

At the other end, Caolan Malone had a shot on goal saved by Milltown ‘keeper Cathal Blake, but the contest had petered out for Barna-Furbo. They had Seán Dunne to thank for landing two impressive two pointers late on, which put a slightly better complexion on the scoreboard. Mannion tallied Milltown’s final point at the other end.

The winners had impressive performances on the day from Jack Kirrane, James Kavanagh, Godwin, Martin, and the three Costello brothers.

Barna-Furbo were best served by James Keane, Seán Fitzgerald, Malone, Dunne, and Naughton.

Milltown: C. Blake; K. Mannion, J. Kirrane, P. Godwin; S. Feerick, S. Blake, J. Kavanagh; T. Godwin (0-4, 1 2pt), A. Kehoe; L. Costello (0-2), M. Hehir (0-1), N. Costello (0-2); M. Martin (0-3, 0-2 frees), E. Mannion (0-5, 0-3 frees), D. Costello (0-2). Subs: C. Brennan for Hehir (40), D. Brennan for Martin (57), S. Kirrane for K. Mannion (57), J. Hynes for S. Feerick (57), J. Feerick for S. Blake (59), S. Glynn for N. Costello (temp. 62).

Barna-Furbo: J. Keane; C. Friel, J. Kennedy, D. Forde; D. Cox, S. Fitzgerald, A. Kavanagh; C. Malone, D. Mahon; D. McComiskey, T. Curran, D. Naughton (0-1); S. Dunne (0-7, 3 2pt), P. Lenihan, D. Costello. Subs: P. Dillon for McComiskey (28), J. Walsh for Cox (36), J. Fallon for Mahon (52).

Referee: T. Murphy.