Galway 0-14
Kildare 0-13
Ciaran McGreal reports from Pearse Stadium
GALWAY WILL PLAY Division 1 football next season as they defeated already promoted Kildare at Pearse Stadium.
Galway only needed a draw from today’s game to secure promotion but Kevin Walsh’s men won by just a point in the end to top Division 2.
Barry McHugh got Galway off the mark with a free in the seventh minute and further points from Tom Flynn, Sean Armstrong and Gary Sice (free) gave the hosts a 0-4 to 0-2 lead after 20 minutes.
Shane Walsh kicked a great point in the 30th minute and a well-taken score from the impressive Johnny Heaney in injury time meant Kevin Walsh’s charges went in at the break 0-7 to 0-4 up.
Eamonn Brannigan’s point after four second half minutes put Galway five points to the good but two quick fire scores from Eamonn Callaghan and McCormack closed the gap for the visitors.
Kildare’s starting team showed 14 changes from their previous match against Clare and in the second half Galway’s experience showed as they began to cut through the Kildare defence.
Armstrong and Paul Conroy opted for points from close range to ensure the scoreboard kept ticking. Walsh and Brannigan could easily have found the net with further efforts but they took the conservative option to put Galway 0-13 to 0-8 up after 54 minutes.
Four unanswered points from Kildare meant they trailed by just a single point with seven minutes remaining but Shane Walsh settled the home supporters’ nerves with an inspirational score in the 64th minute.
A point from Cathal McNally in injury time left a point between the sides again but Galway held on to secure promotion. The team meet again next Sunday in the Division 2 League Final.
Scorers for Galway: Shane Walsh 0-3, Barry McHugh 0-2 (2f), Gary Sice 0-2 (2f), Sean Armstrong 0-2, Eamonn Brannigan 0-2, Tom Flynn 0-1, Johnny Heaney 0-1, Paul Conroy 0-1.
Scorers for Kildare: Fionn Dowling 0-5, Ben McCormack 0-2, Niall Kelly 0-2, Cathal McNally 0-2, Eamonn Callaghan 0-1, David Hyland 0-1.
Galway
1. Rory Lavelle (Renvyle)
4. Cathal Sweeney (Killannin)
3. David Walsh (Killannin)
2. David Wynne (Moycullen)
5. Gary O’Donnell (Tuam Stars)
6. Michael Farragher (Corofin)
7. Johnny Heaney (Killannin)
8. Paul Conroy (St James’)
9. Fiontán Ó Curraoin (Micheál Breathnach)
13. Gary Sice (Corofin)
11. Shane Walsh (Kilkerrin-Clonberne)
10. Thomas Flynn (Athenry)
15. Sean Armstrong (Salthill-Knocknacarra)
12. Eamonn Brannigan (St Michael’s)
14. Barry McHugh (Mountbellew-Moylough)
Substitutes
24. Michael Lundy (Corofin) for Sice (57)
26. Ian Burke (Corofin) for McHugh (63)
17. Liam Silke (Corofin) for Farragher (67)
Kildare
1. Shane McNamara (Celbridge)
3. Mark Hyland (Athy)
4. Liam Healy (Moorefield)
2. Darren Maguire (Maynooth)
6. Shea Ryan (Sarsfields)
5. Peter Kelly (Two Mile House)
7. Emmet Bolton (Eadestown)
8. Fionn Dowling (Suncroft)
9. Paschal Connell (Athy)
10. Eddie Heavey (Moorefield)
11. Conor Hartley (Sarsfields)
12. Con Cavanagh (Sarsfields)
13. Cathal McNally (Johnstownbridge)
14. Eamonn Callaghan (Naas)
15. Ben McCormack (Sarsfields)
Substitutes
17. David Hyland (Athy) for Kelly (24, black card)
20. Keith Cribbin (Johnstownbridge) for Bolton (40)
23. Niall Kelly (Athy) for McCormach (49)
21. Kevin Feely (Athy) for Connell (56, black card)
24. Paul Cribbin (Johnstownbridge) for Heavey (52)
26. David Slattery (Confey) for Hartley (63)
Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry)
