Good afternoon.
It’s Connacht final day, and Galway fans will be hoping their footballers can defend their crown after watching their hurlers make an unexpected exit from the All-Ireland championship yesterday.
The Tribesmen are looking to complete a back-to-back for the first time in 16 years as they prepare to face Roscommon in the Connacht final for the fourth year on the bounce.
Galway have won two of those three previous encounters with Roscommon emerging as champions in the 2017 final.
We’ll have the team line-ups for you in the next few minutes as well as any late changes before the 4pm throw-in.
Here’s how Galway are named to line out:
Galway
1. Bernard Power (Corofin)
2. Eoghan Kerin (Annaghdown)
3. Seán Andy Ó Ceallaigh (Leitir Mór)
4. Liam Silke (Corofin)
5. Gary O’Donnell (Moycullen)
6. Gareth Bradshaw (Maigh Cuilinn)
7. John Daly (Mountbellew-Moylough)
8. Thomas Flynn (Athenry)
9. Fiontán Ó Curraoin (Michéal Breathnach)
10. Shane Walsh (Kilkerrin-Clonberne)
11. Michael Daly (Mountbellew-Moylough)
12. Johnny Heaney (Killannin)
13. Antaine Ó Laoi (An Spidéal)
14. Ian Burke (Corofin)
15. Danny Cummins (Claregalway)
And here’s the Roscommon starting XV:
Roscommon
1. Darren O’Malley (Michael Glaveys)
2. David Murray (Padraig Pearses)
3. Sean Mullooly (Strokestown)
4. Conor Daly (Padraig Pearses)
5. Niall Daly (Padraig Pearses)
6. Conor Hussey (Michael Glaveys)
7. Ronan Daly (Padraig Pearses)
8. Tadgh O’Rourke (Tulsk
9. Shane Killoran (Elphin)
10. Conor Devaney (Kilbride)
11. Cathal Cregg (Western Gaels)
12. Niall Kilroy (Fuerty)
13. Diarmuid Murtagh (St Faithleachs)
14. Conor Cox (Listowel Emmett’s)
15. Enda Smith (Boyle)
So, who do you think will win the 2019 Connacht SFC final?
Poll Results:
The teams arriving at Pearse Stadium
It’s 25 years since Leitrim were kings of Connacht.
Connacht JFC Final Result:
Galway 1-7 Mayo 0-9
Team Changes Before Throw-in:
Galway – Goalkeeper Bernard Power is replaced by Ruairí Lavelle. Peter Cooke starts in place of Danny Cummins.
Roscommon - Will play as selected.
The teams are out!
Here come @Galway_GAA pic.twitter.com/3JKXB4k8oH
— Galway GAA (@Galway_GAA) June 16, 2019
Here come @RoscommonGAA pic.twitter.com/ONw51gsccF
— Galway GAA (@Galway_GAA) June 16, 2019
The pre-match parade is underway. We’re getting closer and closer to throw-in.
1 min: Galway 0-00 Roscommon 0-00
And the 2019 final is underway!
1 min: Galway 0-00 Roscommon 0-00
Diarmuid Murtagh fetches a long ball in and storms towards the Galway goal. Credit to the defence though as they shepherd him out over the endline.
There’s a lot of cloud overhead in Salthill and rain could be on the way.
3 mins: Galway 0-00 Roscommon 0-1
Conor Devaney gets Roscommon off the mark with a lovely score.
5 mins: Galway 0-01 Roscommon 0-1
Michael Daly equalises with a shot off the left boot. A lot of patient build-up play led to that score for Galway.
7 mins: Galway 0-02 Roscommon 0-2
Ronan Daly and Antaine Ó Laoi trade scores and we’re level again in Pearse Stadium.
8 mins: Galway 0-3 Roscommon 0-2
Shane Walsh gives Galway the lead.
The hosts pounced on a poor Roscommon kickout and Walsh doesn’t miss from that kind of range.
10 mins: Galway 0-4 Roscommon 0-3
Fiontán Ó Curraoin kicks a point to edge Galway further in front.
There’s a big call for a Galway penalty but the referee waves play on and the resultant Roscommon attack ends up with Conor Cox getting his first score.
11 mins: Galway 0-5 Roscommon 0-3
Shane Walsh restores that two-point lead from a free.
15 mins: Galway 0-5 Roscommon 0-3
Brilliant exhibition of scoring so far in difficult wet conditions. Just one wide so far from Roscommon as Conor Cox stands over a free from a scoreable position.
17 mins: Galway 0-5 Roscommon 0-4
And that’s a second point for Cox as Roscommon trail by just one point. The rain is falling heavily now in Salthill.
Here’s Conor Cox’s opening point – a peach from play
Conor Cox scores from a tight angle for @RoscommonGAA pic.twitter.com/0QBC1Pmhgr
— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 16, 2019
22 mins: Galway 0-5 Roscommon 0-5
Diarmuid Murtagh levels the sides for a third time from a tricky angle.
Meanwhile, it looks like Galway midfielder Fiontán Ó Curraoin has to make way with injury and will be replaced by Eamonn Brannigan.
Previously, Enda Smith goes on a brilliant individual run. He tries to kick from distance but doesn’t connect with the ball properly and it falls short.
25 mins: Galway 0-5 Roscommon 0-5
Roscommon substitution: Conor Devaney looks to be limping off. He’s replaced by Hubert Darcy.
28 mins: Galway 0-6 Roscommon 0-5
Antaine Ó Laoi gets Galway’s first score since the 14th minute with a nice left-footed effort. It came from a free that Shane Walsh opted to go short with.
After working possession out wide, Ó Laoi slotted it over to push his side back in front.
30 mins: Galway 0-7 Roscommon 0-5
Shane Walsh slots over his second free after David Murray conceded a sloppy free with a high challenge.
Earlier, there was a frantic momen in the Roscommon goalmouth. Liam Silke was bearing down on goal but Darren O’Malley got down to smother the attack and earn a free out.
31 mins: Galway 0-8 Roscommon 0-5
Substitute Brannigan hits Galway’s third point on the bounce and edges them into a three-point lead with half-time looming.
34 mins: Galway 0-9 Roscommon 0-5
Michael Daly converts a free to put Galway four points in front.
The free was awarded after Shane Walsh shipped a late challenge from Hubert Darcy. He was down receiving treatment before getting back up to his feet.
Roscommon haven’t scored since the 17th minute.
36 mins: Galway 0-10 Roscommon 0-5
Gareth Bradshaw brings Galway up to double-digits with Galway’s fifth point in-a-row.
There’s three minutes of added time to be played before half-time.
37 mins: Galway 0-10 Roscommon 0-5
Yellow card for Ian Burke after a shoulder challenge on Cathal Cregg.
Half-Time: Galway 0-10 Roscommon 0-5
Galway 0-10 Roscommon 0-5
Five points separate the sides at the break. The weather is biblical as the rain continues to fall in Salthill.
But Galway have certainly adapted to the conditions much better. Roscommon made a good start but they’ve faded in the last 15 minutes of the half.
Images from the first half
Galway lead Roscommon at the break! Watch the Half-Time highlights here on GAANOW. pic.twitter.com/vZypbel06j
— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 16, 2019
Galway 0-10 Roscommon 0-5
Both sides are back out and ready to go.
35 mins: Galway 0-10 Roscommon 0-5
The second half has begun!
35 mins: Galway 0-10 Roscommon 0-5
And in typical Irish fashion, the torrential rain has given way to sunshine.
38 mins: Galway 0-10 Roscommon 0-6
Niall Kilroy gets a crucial point for Roscommon to reduce the gap to four points.
There was a yellow card for Sean Mullooly earlier after a challenge on Antaine Ó Laoi.
GOAL: Galway 0-10 Roscommon 1-6 (Murtagh)
41 mins: Galway 0-10 Roscommon 1-7
Conor Cox hits the equaliser. What a start for Roscommon! They were five points down six minutes ago, but they’ve hit 1-2 without replay.
Diarmuid Murtagh produced a brilliant finish to get that goal for the Rossies. It’s his first senior championship goal.
Brilliant response from Cunningham’s side.
46 mins: Galway 0-10 Roscommon 1-7
Roscommon’s Niall Daly and Peter Cooke of Galway both get yellow cards.
48 mins: Galway 0-10 Roscommon 1-7
Shane Walsh hits Galway’s third wide of the game and they have yet to register a score in the second half.
Meanwhile, Enda Smith earns a free in a great position at the other end of the pitch.
Diarmuid Murtagh’s goal
Diarmuid Murtagh scores a crucial goal for @RoscommonGAA !! pic.twitter.com/fQlMUaxgiy
— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 16, 2019
50 mins: Galway 0-10 Roscommon 1-8
Roscommon lead!
After scoring that goal a few minutes ago, Murtagh converts the free and the visitors are really hitting their stride now.
54 mins: Galway 0-10 Roscommon 1-8
Roscommon get ’45 after playing the ball around the Glaway area. There had been an interception and the danger should have been cleared but the ball went out off Liam Silke.
Galway substitution: Sean Kelly on for Peter Cooke.
55 mins: Galway 0-11 Roscommon 1-8
Michael Daly grabs a badly-needed score for Galway.
It’s their first score in 21 minutes and the sides are level for a fifth time.
Roscommon substitution: Enda Smith makes way and is replaced by Colin Compton.
58 mins: Galway 0-11 Roscommon 1-9
Niall Daly comes up from half-back to get a response for Roscommon. The Rossies lead once more.
61 mins: Galway 0-11 Roscommon 1-10
Massive score from Shane Killoran to push Roscommon into a two-point lead. That leaves them in a brilliant position heading into the final 10 minutes of normal time.
Galway need to muster a response quickly.
62 mins: Galway 0-11 Roscommon 1-10
Roscommon substitution: Cian McKeon on for Cathal Cregg. Cregg appears to have picked up an injury. He’s put in a super shift for Roscommon.
67 mins: Galway 0-11 Roscommon 1-11
Murtagh brings his tally up to 1-3 with another free. What a turnaround!
Roscommon have gone from five points down to three points up while Galway have only scored one point in this second half.
71 mins: Galway 0-11 Roscommon 1-11
Seven minutes of added time to be played.
74 mins: Galway 0-11 Roscommon 1-11
SAVE!!
Darren O’Malley produces a brilliant reflex save for Roscommon. It was clever play from Galway who lobbed the ball in and tried to flick it into the net.
Roscommon still lead as time ticks on.
75 mins: Galway 0-12 Roscommon 1-11
Walsh scores from the ’45 to bring them back to within two of Roscommon.
76 mins: Galway 0-12 Roscommon 1-12
What a point!!
Conor Cox has been superb and he finds his range again from a difficult position. Superb stuff from the Kerry-born forward.
77 mins: Galway 0-12 Roscommon 1-12
John Daly tries to nab a goal for Galway but drags his shot wide.
Roscommon fans have flooded onto the pitch but the game isn’t over yet.
78 mins: Galway 0-12 Roscommon 1-13
Cox nails another free and surely that’s it!!
Full-Time: Galway 0-12 Roscommon 1-13
Galway 0-12 Roscommon 1-13
It’s all over!!
Roscommon are Connacht champions again. An unbelievable second-half display and there’s magical scenes unfolding in Salthill.
Conor Cox was immense today!
Conor Cox with an inspirational score for @RoscommonGAA right at the end!! pic.twitter.com/AUadc6CCTQ
— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 16, 2019
Galway 0-12 Roscommon 1-13
Unbelievable stuff from Roscommon who posted 1-8 in the second half while also reducing Galway to just two points.
There were star performances throughout the Roscommon team, including Conor Cox, Diarmuid Murtagh and Cathal Cregg.
Galway will be very disappointed with how their second-half display.
A great achievement for Roscommon boss Anthony Cunningham.
Well that’s all from us folks, we hope you enjoyed the coverage. You can read Kevin O’Brien’s match report here.
Until next time, bye for now!
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