Barna recovered from bad start to clinch victory with two late goals

By BILLY COSS Barna ........................................2-10 Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir .............0-11 AFTER the trials and tribulations of their self-inflicted defeat by Maigh Cuilinn in the opening round of the Galway S.F.C., last year's beaten semi-finalists Barna rediscovered their form to book a place in the last 16 at the expense of Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir at Pearse Stadium on Sunday afternoon.[private] In truth, this was no five-point game. Despite seeing a healthy lead disintegrate in the face a powerful second half from Barna, Leitir Móir trailed by a solitary point entering added time and although working off limited amounts of possession, weren't without their chances of taking the spoils. A below-par conversion rate would prove their undoing however as Barna plundered two late goals from Ray Conneely, in the 51st minute, and Kieran Hanley, deep in added time, to settle the outcome. Although manager Michael Lydon welcomed corner-back John O'Toole back into his defence, the loss of â€Ëœkeeper James Keane and influential midfielder John Clifford weakened a Barna side already operating without Aodhfin Griffin and Galway minor Tom Curran. Leitír Móir, for their part, also made a couple of changes to the starting line-up that came up short against Milltown's late rally, most notably the return of Patrick Mark Ó Fátharta to the starting XV. The clinical nature of the South Connemara club's finishing was the standout feature of the opening quarter. Scarcely seven minutes had passed when they had the game's first five points on the board with some flawless shooting from range. Ó Fátharta struck three while Ferdia Breathnach hit the pick of the scores as Leitír Móir built a 0-6 to 0-1 lead when aided by a significant wind. The manner of Barna's opening round defeat to a Maigh Cuilinn side missing so many front-liners would have really rankled. Between wides and a host of attempts dropped short, over twenty scoring chances went abegging: a damning statistic at this level. Their woes in front of goal continued into this qualifier match with six first-half wides and a couple of unconverted goal chances. Paddy Kennedy was denied from point-blank range by Eoin Ó Conghaile, while Kieran Hanley shot high and wide when a goal looked certain. They gradually found their stride as the half wore on, however, and a strong finish to the half with scores from Donal Feeney, Paddy Kennedy and D. D. Flaherty reducing the deficit to a manageable 0-7 to 0-4. Leitir Móir's finishing was far more economical and when Ciarán Ó Conghaile and Cormac Ó Conghaile weighed in with early second-half points, they looked well set. Scores would soon dry up for Ciarán Ó Fátharta's team however as Barna, now backed by the wind, took control, dominated possession and found their shooting boots to outscore their opponents 2-6 to 0-2 for the remainder of the match. There were notable individual performances during Barna's second-half revival: Paddy Naughton was a constant driving force from the half-back line; Paddy Kennedy made telling bursts and hit three superb points from play; Ray Conneely finished the match with 1-3, his match-turning 51st minute goal coming after Barna capitalised on a Leitir Móir defensive error â€â€ long before his last-gasp goal put the outcome beyond any doubt, while Kieran Hanley's pace, movement and link-up play tormented the Leitir Móir defence. But overall, Barna's was a collective effort. Their defensive set-up gradually got to grips with Leitir Móir's danger men and they dominated midfield for the second match running. Barna came from nowhere last season, got on a roll and strung together a series of wins that took them all the way to a first ever Championship semi-final. If they are to emulate that run, they will have to overcome the only side to defeat them in League or Championship action in 2010, Corofin, in the last 16. Leitir Móir, for their part, have been dragged into the relegation play-offs where they will meet Caltra in a preliminary tie. With Eoin Ó Conghaile, Coilín Ó hÓgáin, Cormac Ó Conghaile, Patrick Mark Ó Fátharta and the Breathnachs, Fiachra and Ferdia, in their ranks, the men from the Islands should have enough to avoid the drop to Intermediate football in 2012. Barna: M Mannion: J. Gannon, E. McDonagh (captain), J. O'Toole; C. Thornton, R. Curran, P. Naughton;  D. Feeney, B. Conneely: R. O'Carroll, D. D. Flaherty (0-2, one free), P. Kennedy (0-3); K. Hanley (1-1), R. Conneely (1-3), R. Geraghty. Subs: C. Horgan for Geraghty, half-time; S. Delaney for Horgan, 51 mins. Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir: E. Ó Conghaile; C. Ó hÓgáin, Colm Ó Conghaile, C. Mac Donnchadha; C. Bairéad (0-1), E. Ó Catháin, T. Ó Gríofa; P. Bairéad, C. Ó Flatharta; Cormac Ó Conghaile (0-2), Ferdia Breathnach (0-2, one free), Fiachra Breathnach (captain); Ciarán Ó Conghaile (0-2), P. M. Ó Fátharta (0-3, two frees), A. Ó Fátharta (0-1). Subs:  P. S. Ó Ceallaigh for P. Bairéad, half-time; P. Seoighe for C. Ó Flátharta, 51 mins; D. Mac Donnchadha for A. Ó Fátharta, 54 mins. Referee: Gearóid Ó Conámha (An Fhairche). Herald Sport Man of the Match: Paddy Naughton (Barna)[/private]