Sluggish Galway fail to fire in Connacht SFC semi-final win over Leitrim
A team with serious All-Ireland ambitions shouldn't be getting a wake-up call from Division Four league strugglers, but that's what happened to Galway footballers in Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday.
Though this Connacht semi-final never threatened to turn into the expected turkey shoot for the Tribesmen, when they led by 1-17 to 1-7 against opponents now temporarily down to 14 players after 57 minutes, nothing but a big win was still on the cards for the champions.
The remaining action, however, must leave Galway fans apprehensive about what lies ahead over the coming weeks after Leitrim reduced the margin to three points with an unanswered scoring burst of 1-4.
Suddenly, Galway’s priority was just to win the game and they managed to re-establish some control from there to the end with substitute Shane Walsh’s ball-carrying ability helping to keep gallant Leitrim on the retreat.
But the rank outsiders are entitled to wonder what might have been if their star player Barry McNulty had not endured a wretched time with his shooting in the first-half, comprised of three wides, another effort coming off the post, together with a shot dropping short.
Galway, however, had bad misses of their own, with eight wides over the opening 35 minutes; while the penalty awarded to Leitrim in the third quarter was harsh: goalkeeper Conor Flaherty only stood his ground as Fergal McLoughlin charged into him.
Fermanagh referee Niall Cullen thought otherwise, however. Flaherty picked up a black card; Connor Gleeson came on and with his first touch denied Ryan O'Rourke's spot-kick only for Oisín McLoughlin to first-time the rebound to the net.
That all happened around the 46th minute and it gave Leitrim followers in the crowd of 4,843 some hope. but Galway responded impressively with points from team captain John Maher, Walsh (free), substitute Shane McGrath, and Paul Conroy.
Now 0-15 to 0-7 ahead, Galway looked to have settled the issue when Conroy, Sean Kelly and Damien Comer created the opening for Dylan McHugh to finish to the net in the 57th minute.
When Kelly quickly tagged on a point, a stress-free closing stages was on the cards for Galway, but Leitrim weren’t prepared to lie down. The lively Riordan O’Rourke fired over a quality point, and when a couple of short Gleeson kick-outs malfunctioned, the hosts took advantage.
Oisín McLoughlin set up substitute Jack Kelly for a goal before McHugh was in the right place to take Tom Prior’s effort off the line. Leitrim ’keeper Killian Coffey split the posts from the resulting 45, and when Paul Honeyman nailed a terrific two-pointer in the 61st minute, the gap was down to just three.
Galway had to lift the tempo and two points from Walsh and a Finnerty free saw them over the line, but this was far from a convincing display, even allowing for their significant break from competitive action.
In the opening half, Galway had lots of territory but they were sloppy in possession at times, while their finishing also left much to be desired. Making his first start of the season, John Daly was on a lot of ball in the opening 20 minutes and also registered the first score of the game.
White flags from Finian Ó Laoi, Liam Ó Conghaile, Finnerty (free) and a trademark two-pointer from Conroy came during a period when Leitrim’s highlight was an orange flag raised by Coffey’s long-range free.
As the half progressed, the returning Cillian McDaid was repeatedly driving forward and picked off a fine score in the 26th minute just after Finnerty's two-pointer. By the end of the half, Galway led by 0-11 to 0-4 with Ó Conghaile again on target just before the break.
Leitrim, who managed only a solitary point from play from O’Rourke in the half, were left to rue McNulty’s inaccuracy, but they were battling honestly with the likes of Cillian McGloin, Conor Reynolds, the fiery Keith Keegan, Oisín McLoughlin, and O’Rourke leading their challenge.
In the end, Galway had to work harder than expected to qualify for an 11th consecutive Connacht final, and they will obviously need to step up considerably on this sloppy display if they are to overcome resurgent Roscommon in the Hyde on Sunday week.
At least Walsh, who looked as sharp as ever, and Comer got some game time; while McDaid made light of his lay-off with an all-action display. The likes of McHugh, Daly, Conroy, Maher, Ó Conghaile and Finnerty all had their moments, while Kelly made an impact after being introduced.
Galway: C Flaherty; J McGrath, S Fitzgerald, S Ó'Mailcharáin; D McHugh (1-0), J Daly (0-1), L Silke; P Conroy (0-3, 1tp), J Maher (0-1); F Ó Laoí (0-1), L Ó'Conghaile (0-3, 1tp), C McDaid (0-2); R Finnerty (0-4, 1tp 2f), C Darcy, O MacDonnacha. Subs: S Walsh (0-3 2f) for Mac Donnacha (41), S McGrath (0-1) for O Laoi (41), C Gleeson for Ó'Conghaile (48), S Kelly (0-1) for J McGrath (inj. 61), M Bairéid for McDaid (69).
Leitrim: K Gaffey (0-3, 1tp, 1 '45; C McGloin, C Reynolds, S Harkin; E McLoughlin, M Diffley, K Keegan; C Quinn, B McNulty (0-2, 1 tpf); F McLoughlin, R O'Rourke (0-2), T Prior; B Guckian (0-1f), R O'Rourke (0-1f), O McLoughlin (1-1). Subs: P Honeyman (0-2, 1tp) for Guckian (45), J Kelly (1-0) for F Mcloughlin (54), K Clancy for Harkin (57), E McNamara for McGloin (60), M McKiernan for Quinn (69).
Referee: Niall Cullen (Fermanagh).