Galway just too clinical for battling Leitrim in Connacht U20 opener

A harsh final scoreline perhaps but there was no getting away from the fact that Galway’s clinical finishing was more than enough to give them a deserved victory over a Leitrim side who battled as if their lives depended on it during Wednesday’s Eirgrid Connacht U20 Championship in Balliasloe’s Duggan Park.

After a game played at a blistering pace and featuring some wonderful football, Galway hit 1-3 to Leitrim’s solitary point over the final ten minutes to secure victory against a stubborn Leitrim side who kept coming back from body blows and refused to take a backward step.

A missed penalty in the first half, Jack Casey’s shot grazing the outside of the post, gave Galway a bit of breathing room at the halftime break that wasn’t warranted given the first half action but the home side were the more threatening, Leitrim dangerous on the break thanks to Paul Honeyman.

The young Ballinamore man, just out of minor, caused the Galway defence no end of problems but it was getting the ball to him and holding out the Galway attack at the far end that proved to be the cause of Leitrim’s problems.

Galway did look more accomplished and in Colm Costello, a player who tormented both Ballinamore and Carrick schools in Connacht Finals, they had a player with an instinctive eye for a score, the Tribe seemingly finding it much easier to get a score at the Dunmore McHales clubman ended up with a tally of ten points.

MORAN DELIGHTED TO SEE HARD WORK BEAR FRUIT

Leitrim matched up well with the Tribesmen in terms of height, in fact until Galway brought on sub Dara Walsh, son of former Galway great Kevin, Andy Moran’s side had the edge in height but interestingly, Galway’s physicality and power was evident throughout the contest.

Costello, however, wasn’t one of those who relied on physical power, his movement and neat touch a highlight of this game with Jack Lonergan and keeper Eamon McGrath stand outs for the Galway men, the accurate kickouts from the netminder a huge factor in this game as Leitrim applied a ferocious press throughout.

Honeyman was immense for Leitrim, his pace and trickery on the ball a huge asset but he was probably left too isolated in playing almost a ‘lone striker’ role. Barry McNulty drove Leitrim forward while Paddy Keane impressed with his physicality.

Defensively, Leitrim would appear to have some issues but a small improvement in that area could lead to big results while a bit more support for Honeyman in attack might open up more space for the Ballinamore man.

Leitrim’s next game is hosting Mayo in Pairc Sheain Ui Eslin on Wednesday April 3.

The Leitrim team who were defeated by Galway in the Eirgrid Connacht U20 FC in Duggan Park Ballinasloe on Wednesday March 20 Picture: Leitrim GAA

Colm Costello gave early notice of the effect he would have on this game with two fine points in the first three minutes before Barry McNulty replied for Leitrim five minutes in. Costello would add a free before Leitrim drew level by the eight minute mark when Paul Honeyman collected a long Darren Cox free to fire over before another long ball paid off for the Ballinamore Sean  O’Heslins clubman.

Costello immediately hit back for Galway while another long ball to Honeyman saw him release Ben Guckian but under pressure, his shot dribbled into the keeper’s hands. Costello then claimed a mark on 13 minutes before Barry McNulty converted a free after a foul on himself.

Galway were starting to open up a bit of daylight with Costello hitting six of the game inside the first quarter before Ronan Colleran became the second Galway player to score two minutes later. Paddy Keane finished off a well worked Galway move to halt the Galway surge but Cormac Greaney finished off a clever Galway move.

Galway almost broke through for a goal with Brian Cull making a good stop from Matthew Thompson, the fifty going wide and Leitrim responded with a well taken Jack Casey effort. Thompson would finish off a good move at the other end with a point to stretch the Galway lead to three points.

That lead was doubled on 25 minutes when a Galway line-ball was penalised for a foot across the line. But from the throw-ball, Galway won possession and released Jack Folan who steamed through the middle like and train and produced a wonderful finish to the back of the Leitrim net.

It looked ominous but Leitrim had a perfect opportunity to hit back when a long ball found Paul Honeyman one on one. It looked as if the Ballinamore man slipped and then was challenged but referee Shane Corcoran spotted an infringement and awarded a penalty. Unfortunately for Jack Casey, his spot kick grazed the outside of the post and went wide.

Darren Cox put an effort wide before Honeyman converted to leave the halftime score at 1-9 to 0-7 in favour of the Galway men.

The second half opened with wides from Guckian and Honeyman before a Galway sideline ball straight down the centre came to Costello for a point. Paddy Keane replied for Leitrim after a good run from Darren Cox but points from Costello (free) and Cian Murphy extended the Galway lead.

As Galway brought on three subs and Leitrim introduced Paul Moran for Jack Casey, Paul Honeyman saw a free tipped over the bar by the Galway keeper Eamon McGrath. Galway had a chance for a goal but a last ditch interception took the ball away from Galway sub Dara Walsh, son of Galway great and former manager Kevin.

With Brian Goldrick coming on and the game becoming disjointed, Galway sub Sean Birmingham stretched the lead to seven points before Leitrim rallied with three points in a six minute spell, all from frees, for Honeyman (2) and Barry McNulty.

Leitrim then won a free about 21 yards out and in the aftermath, referee Corcorcan showed Honeyman a black card and Galway corner-back Shane Canavan a second yellow card leaving both teams down to 14. An audacious quick free from Leitrim was easily saved by McGrath in the Galway goal.

Matthew Thompson put the Galway lead back to four with a massive 50 yard free but Leitrim kept battling, Barry McNulty seeing an effort blocked at close range while a Guckian free into the area was batted out with the follow-up going wide.

LEITRIM DESERVED THAT BIT OF LUCK BELIEVES MARK PLUNKETT

Unfortunately it was Galway who got the goal when Sean Birmingham intercepted a poor Leitrim kickout in the final minute of normal time and fed Thompson for a well taken goal to leave the Galway men eight points.

Darren Cox lofted a 50 yard free over the bar but two more points from Costello, one from a free, sealed a comfortable victory for the Tribesmen.

LEITRIM

Scorers: Paul Honeyman 0-6, 3f; Barry McNulty 0-3, 2f; Paddy Keane 0-2; Jack Casey & Darren Cox 0-1 each

Team: Brian Cull; Arek Oberwan, Tom Hughes, Ryan Cunningham; Conor Keegan, Jack Foley, Eanna McNamara; Barry McNulty, Ben Guckian; Michael McBrien, Paddy Keane, Jack Casey; Jake Tobin, Paul Honeyman, Darren Cox. Subs: Shaun Conlon for Cunningham (23), Paul Moran for Casey (42), Brian Goldrick for Hughes (43), Tom Plunkett for McBrien (48), Colm McLoughlin for Keegan (61)

GALWAY

Scorers: Colm Costello 0-10, 1M, 3f; Matthew Thompson 1-2, 1f; Jack Folan 1-0, Cian Murphy, Sean Birmingham, Ronan Colleran, Cormac Greaney 0-1 each

Team: E McGrath; S Canavan, B Noone, J Folan; P Godwin, J Lonergan, D Costello; R Colleran, C Greaney; M Thompson, D Kilcommins, C Heneghan; C Costello, C Murphy, C Mulhern. Subs: L O’Connor for Greaney, S Birmingham for Colleran (40), D Walsh for Heneghan (41), S Hansberry for Kilcommins (52), S O’Connor for Longeran (61).

Referee: Shane Corcoran (Mayo)