Galway finish strong but Leitrim can take plenty from Tuam performance

An 11 point loss may not seem like progress but after a FBD Insurance Connacht League game where Leitrim more than matched Galway for long periods in St Jarlath’s Park in Tuam on Saturday, there were plenty of positives for Steven Poacher’s team to take.

With the Leitrim manager stating that all attention is focussed on the first round of the League, Leitrim put up a battling display against an admittedly understrength Galway side and actually led after 43 minutes when Galway were awarded a soft-enough penalty, expertly converted by the imperious Matthew Thompson.

With Leitrim having already taken off some of their most impressive performers on the day, in particular Conor Quinn who made a huge difference in midfield, Galway took flight in the final quarter and they poured on the scores, hitting ten points to one from Leitrim and giving what had been a competitive game a somewhat unbalanced look.

With the emphasis very much on getting game time in players’ legs and managing the load on those returning from injury, Leitrim lost impetus in the final quarter but there was much to admire beforehand as the Green & Gold took the game to a Galway side also giving players a chance to shine.

Killian Gaffey starred on the day, not only as a keeper with his long kickouts making a big difference to Leitrim’s game plan, but also his long range placekicking, six first half points making him Leitrim’s top scorer. The St Mary’s man had a willing target in Conor Quinn in the middle of the park for his kickouts and the Mohill players’ physicality matched the power of the Tribesmen, the way Galway took over in the final quarter illustrating the point better than any words.

THE LAST POINT: HOLD OFF ON THE PANIC BUTTON

Ryan O’Rourke also had a solid first outing while Tom Prior was again the livewire and pace-setter of this Leitrim team, the Galway men having trouble coping with his pace and skill on the ball.

The defeat means that Leitrim will face London in the FBD playoffs next weekend, presumably at the Connacht Centre of Excellence but it promises to be another game where Poacher will seek to give his squad game time before the serious business of the League starts.

Thoughts of another rough day at the office immediately leapt to mind when Matthew Thompson blasted home a great goal for Galway just over a minute into the game but Leitrim responded well, Killian Gaffey narrowly wide with a two point free before he drilled one from the right wing six minutes in.

From the kickout, Ryan O’Rourke intercepted to set up Riordan O’Rourke for a fine point. Galway went back in front with a well worked Mikey Mulryan point but when Gaffey thumped over another two point free, Leitrim led after nine minutes. Galway hit back with points from Mulryan and Alan Naughton (free) before Naughton pointed after Galway won a kickout.

Both teams had bad misses but with Oisin McLoughlin’s clever fisted pass, Eanna McNamara scored an excellent point on 25 minutes and two minutes later, Gaffey converted his third two point free, a second for a foul on Ryan O’Rourke. 

The Leitrim captain got in on the scoring act himself a minute later when he showed great persistence to break his way through the Galway defence and his day was ended before halftime as the Green 7 Gold brought on Jack Kelly and Evan Harkin, Kelly scoring in added time after a break by his fellow sub.

That left Leitrim with a 0-10 to 1-4 halftime lead but Galway came out with a bit of fire in the second half, drawing level inside four minutes courtesy of a monster Thompson two pointer and a Cillian O Curraoin free.

Leitrim, however, weren’t for wilting - a clever James Rooney crossfield pass found an isolated Conor Quinn for a good point and then Tom Prior, under fierce pressure, forced a good point as Leitrim went two clear.

The Leitrim team who were defeated by Galway in Tuam on Saturday Picture: Willie Donnellan

O Curraoin’s two point free tied the scores once more but a strong Prior run led to Jack Kelly notching his second of the game. With the game finely balanced, it took a turn when Galway sub Shane McGrath charged at the Leitrim defence, seeking a goal. He went to ground, the referee adjudging it a foul but it looked very soft.

Unfortunately, Matthew Thompson was in an unforgiving mood, blasting a powerful penalty right into the left corner, the ball cannoning back out the field off the back stanchion. That put Galway two clear and when Kieran Molloy followed up with a huge two pointer, Leitrim started to wilt.

At this stage, Leitrim had run in six subs and with Conor Quinn missing from midfield, the Tribesmen exerted a fierce grip on the second. Tom Prior broke through a tackle to point on 48 minutes, Leitrim’s last of the game, but Galway, also running their bench, hit seven without reply.

Killian Gaffey was unable to convert two two-point frees but did make a great save to deny Galway a third goal as they reeled off points from Brain Cogger, Shane McGrath, Oisin McDonagh, Thompson (3) and Jack O’Neill (2) to finish off the game.

LEITRIM

Scorers: Killain Gaffey 0-6, 6f; Jack Kelly & Tom Prior 0-2 each; Riordan O’Rourke, Eanna McNamara, Ryan O’Rourke & Conor Quinn 0-1 each

Team: Killian Gaffey; Conor Reynolds, Kieran Clancy, Sean Harkin; Eanna McNamara, James Rooney, Donal Feely; Conor Quinn, Mark Diffley; Fergal McLoughlin, Riordan O’Rourke, Tom Prior; Oisin McLoughlin, Ryan O’Rourke, Ruairí O’Rourke. Subs: Eoin McLoughlin for Reynolds (20), Evan Harkin & Jack Kelly for Ryan & Ruairí O’Rourke (30), Ben Guckian & David Feeney for O McLoughlin & Quinn (39), Peter Prior for McNamara (44), Bailey McBride for Feely (48), Hugh Clancy & Tom Plunkett for Riordan O’Rourke & F McLoughlin (50)

GALWAY

Scorers: M Thompson 2-6, 1-1f; 2 tp; M Mulryan, A Naughton (f), C Ó Curraoin (2f), K Molloy (tp) 0-2 each; J O’Neill, J Nolan, S McGrath, B Cogger, O McDonagh 0-1 each

Team: C Flaherty; M Moughan, C Carson, A Kavanagh; D Heneghan, C Hernon, B Cogger; K Molloy, C Gallagher; L Costello, M Thompson, M Mulryan; A Naughton, C Power, C Ó Curraoin. Subs: M Barrett for Hernon (30), S McGlinchey for Gallagher (30), O McDonagh for Naughton (30), S McGrath for Costello (38), C Costello for Ó Curraoin (41), D Burke for Heneghan (41), J Folan for Kavanagh (45), J Nolan for Power (48), J O’Neill for Mulryan (53)

Referee: Jimmy Donohue (Roscommon)