Galway 3-15
Mayo 0-11
Colm Gannon reports from MacHale Park
TWO GOALS JUST before half time from Galway booked their place in the Connacht minor football championship semi-final against Roscommon on June 28.
Stephen Joyce’s side played into the teeth of a strong gale during the first half, but they went in leading 3-7 to 0-7 at the break.
Martin Kerrigan netted his side’s first goal, nine minutes in after he cut in along the end line before putting the ball low under under Jamie McNicholas in the Mayo goal. With 15 minutes gone the Tribesmen were leading 1-4 to 0-2 with man of the match Evan Murphy running the game.
Mayo did rally and two minutes before the break they trailed by just two points on a score of 1-6 to 0-7, with Tommy Conroy and John Gallagher leading the charge for them on the scoreboard. Galway should have netted a second goal just after the 20 minute mark when Daniel Kenny forced McNicholas into a great save after Murphy picked him out with an inch perfect ball.
Kenny made no mistake when Murphy found him again in space behind the defence just on 30 minutes and finished with aplomb. Two minutes later the outcome of the game was put to bed when Kenny was on the end of a great move to palm the ball to the back of the net from close range to put his side nine points clear at the turn around.
Mayo tried to step the tide in the second half, but Galway eased their way through the final half and hour and with 12 minutes left they led by 14 points on a score of 3-13 to 0-8 as the crowd of 1,902 started to make their way to the exits ahead of the full time whistle.
Scorers for Galway: Daniel Kenny (2-0), Evan Murphy (0-5, 4f), Rory Cunningham (0-3), Martin Kerrigan (1-0) Padraic Costello (0-2), Matthias Barrett (0-1), Matthew Tierney (0-1, 1f), Conor Campbell (0-1)
Scorers for Mayo: John Gallagher (0-4, 4f), Tommy Conory (0-2), Cathal Slattery (0-1), Michael McGarry (0-1), Kuba Callaghan (0-1), Dylan Prendergast (0-1), Mikie Conroy (0-1)
Mayo
1. Jamie McNichoals (Kiltimagh)
2. Jack Coyne (Ballyhaunis)
3. Mark Dervan (Breaffy)
4. Oran O’Malley (Ballinrobe)
5. Paul Towey (Charlestown)
6. Gavin Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels)
7. Conor Beirne (Breaffy)
8. Joe Dawson (Louisburgh)
9. Cillian Golding (Balla)
10. Stephen McGreal (Claremorris)
11. Nathan Moran (Ballinrobe)
12. Michael McGarry (Eastern Gaels)
13. Cathal Slattery (Garrymore)
23. John Gallagher (Mayo Gaels)
15. Tommy Conroy (The Neale)
Subs: 24. Dylan Prendergast (Louisburgh) for Slattery, 21. Kuba Callaghan (Ballaghderreen) for Golding, 20. Pat Lambert (Westport) for McGreal, 22. Mikie Conroy (Kiltane) for McGarry, 17. Kieran King (Knockmore) for Coyne. 14. Sean Keane (Louisburgh) for Prendergast
Galway
1. Oran Burke (Corofin)
2. Eoin McFadden (Salthill-Knocknacara)
3. Sean Mulkerin (Oiléan Arainn)
4. Gavin Burke (Corofin)
5. Jack Glynn (Claregalway)
18. Séan Fitzgerald (Bearna)
7. Liam Boyle (Cill Chloirin Cluain Bheirne)
8. Matthias Barrett (Leitir Mór)
9. Daniel Kenny (Oughterard)
10. Brian Harlowe (St Michaels)
11. Darragh Silke (Corofin)
12. Martin Kerrigan (Clonbur)
13. Rory Cunningham (St Brendans)
14. Evan Murphy (Salthill-Knocknacara)
15. Padraic Costello (Dunmore)
Subs: 19. Conor Campbell (Claregalway) for Kerrigan, 22. Matthew Tierney (Oughterard) for Silke, 20. Conor Walsh (Claregalway) for Harlowe, 21. McDara McGeraghty (Glenamaddy) for Barrett, 17. Colin Murray (An Creagán Magh Locha) for Boyle, 23. James Mulrooney (St Brendans) for Kenny.