Galway 3-10
Laois 0-12
GALWAY ADVANCED TO the semi-finals of the All-Ireland minor football championship by a deceptively-large seven-point margin at O’Connor Park in Tullamore this afternoon — their victory secured by their superior ability to convert goal chances in a wide-open contest.
Five clear-cut chances to raise green flags were created by the young Tribesmen, three of which were finished to the net, while at the other end goalkeeper Cormac Haslam was in inspired form, producing a series of excellent saves.
Laois also pulled three shots wide of the target from inside the penalty area and wasted a late spot-kick, misses which ultimately cost them their chance of pulling off a shock win.
Galway played with the wind in the first half and while they struggled badly at midfield, losing out to the greater fielding power of Max Connolly and Robert Tyrell, they were extremely clinical up front.
Despite not having key wing forward Barry Goldrick available after he suffered a broken leg during the week, they were incredibly sharp, with their inside line duo of Desmond Conneely and Robert Finnerty linking up very well.
Finnerty and Adam Murphy struck for two goals in quick succession around the 22-minute mark to give Galway a 2-6 to 0-2 interval lead and they added a third through Ryan Forde after half time, their lead preserved to the end by the shocking profligacy of the Leinster team.
Scorers for Galway: Evan Murphy & Robert Finnerty (0-1f) 1-3 each, Desmond Conneely 0-4, Ryan Forde 1-0.
Scorers for Laois: Diarmuid Whelan 0-7f, Adam Deering 0-2, Finbarr Crowley, Johnny Kelly & Lee Davis 0-1 each.
Galway
1. Cormac Haslam (Glenamaddy)
2. Eoghan Deeley (Salthill-Knocknacarra)
3. Seán Mulkerrin (Aran Islands)
7. Fionnán Garvey (Monivea-Abbey)
5. Adam Quirke (Annaghdown)
6. Ernán McDonagh (Bearna)
20. Lee Kenny (Monivea-Abbey)
9. Ross Murphy (Bearna)
8. Seán Raftery (Glenamaddy)
14. Finian Ó’ Laoi (An Spidéal)
11. Evan Murphy (Salthill-Knocknacarra)
12. Ryan Forde (Annaghdown)
23. Rory Cunningham (St Brendan’s)
15. Desmond Conneely (Moycullen)
13. Robert Finnerty (Salthill-Knocknacarra)
Subs
24. John Maher (Salthill-Knocknacarra) for Cunningham (35)
25. Seán Thornton (Killanin) for Kenny (41)
26. Liam Boyle (Kilkerrin-Clonberne) for Deeley (53)
27. Martin Kerrigan (An Fhairche) for Murphy (56)
28. Jack Gavin (St Brendan’s) for Ó’Laoi (59)
Laois
1. Ross McGrath (Portarlington)
3. Diarmuid Bennett (Portarlington)
2. James Kelly (St Josephs)
4. Richie Hitchcock (Park-Ratheniska)
5. Shane Bolger (Killeshin)
6. Seán Byrne (Portarlington)
7. James O’Connor (Timahoe)
24. Robert Tyrell (Camross)
9. Max Connolly (Ballyfin)
10. Finbarr Crowley (Emo)
11. Adam Deering (Killeshin)
12. Ciarán Comerford (Harps)
13. Alan Kinsella (Courtwood)
22. John Kavanagh (Portlaoise)
14. Diarmuid Whelan (Ballyroan-Abbey)
Subs
16. Darragh Phelan (Barrowhouse) for McGrath (24 – bc)
15. Johnny Kelly (O’Dempsey’s) for Kinsella (ht),
20. Dylan Feane (Portlaoise) for Bolger (43 – bc)
23. Lee Davis for Comerford (43)
21. E Lowry for Kavanagh (43)
Referee: James Bermingham (Cork)
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