Galway U-21 footballers played with spirit and skill to win the Connacht Championship

By JIM CARNEY Galway 1-17â€Â¨ Roscommon 2-11 (after extra-time) ON the evening of the Aintree Grand National, Galway U-21 footballers jumped their own Becherâ€â„¢s Brook in the race to maintain the countyâ€â„¢s great record in the grade. It was Galwayâ€â„¢s 18th Connacht U-21 title, five behind Mayo who havenâ€â„¢t won it since 2009; Roscommon have won the J. J. Fahy Cup seven times and Leitrim twice, with Sligo still to win a provincial title in the U-21 grade. All-Ireland champions two years ago, Galway saw Roscommon win the West last year and progress to the final, which they lost to Dublin. The 2011 All-Ireland title was Galwayâ€â„¢s fourth and the third in ten years. Now theyâ€â„¢re preparing for an All-Ireland semi-final against Kildare whose senior team manager Kieran McGeeney also looks after the U-21s. The 2002 Sam Maguire Cup-winning captain of Armagh, now six years in Kildare, was a spectator at Hyde Park, Roscommon on Saturday evening. He got plenty of food for thought. Above all, as a man who always played with total commitment in his own distinguished career, McGeeney must have been impressed by Galwayâ€â„¢s will-to-win and indomitable spirit. Why those qualities are not always automatically associated with Galway senior football teams remains a mystery, and I say that with all due respect to all who wear Maroon and White, for they are not professionals; but there really is something about this U-21 team thatâ€â„¢s very refreshing and inspirational. What has to follow it now, entering a new phase of pressure and expectation, is a tighter, more controlled performance. Galway have played three and won three, defeating Sligo, Mayo and Roscommon, but in the second and third outings the losers could have blamed themselves: Mayo were hugely disappointing first time out, perhaps believing the hype about them in their own county, while it was strongly felt Roscommon kicked victory away last Saturday, from frees in particular. They also suffered a massive setback in the second half of â€Ëœnormalâ€â„¢ time when their best forward, Donie Smith, a goal-scorer early in the game, was sent off on a second yellow yard. That came in the 53rd minute of the match and even though Galway had already lost a man to a sending-off, Eoin Walsh, heâ€â„¢s a defender. Itâ€â„¢s nearly impossible to compensate for the loss of a star forward in such circumstances. Thomas Corcoran (Strokestown) was strangely off-form with his freetaking; he was a brilliant placekicker as a minor for Roscommon, and it was also a surprise that Galway forward Shane Walsh didnâ€â„¢t convert all his scoring chances for three-quarters of â€Ëœnormalâ€â„¢ time but he kept cool and finished the hour in a blaze of glory with his teamâ€â„¢s final four points, including one from play, to force the contest to extra-time. When Galway needed heroes to stand up and be counted, Ian Burke of Corofin also answered the call; he gave a breathtaking display, a brilliant contribution that was really special. No matter what happens from here on in this U-21 Championship it will be remembered: six points, all from play. In extra-time in particular, there was a buzz all around the ground every time Ian got on the ball; heâ€â„¢s a forward of silky skills, with superb balance, and with the team all working hard to create chances he had the cutting-power to knife through and take his scores expertly. But Kieran McGeeney will know now that Galway have an unusually big number of classy forwards to choose from, with at least two and maybe three having to be kept on the bench at the start, so the Kildare backs will be warned ahead of the All-Ireland semi-final. For the record, Roscommon were one point up at half-time in â€Ëœnormalâ€â„¢ time, 2-4 to 1-6; the score at the end of â€Ëœnormalâ€â„¢ time was Roscommon 2-8 Galway 1-11, and Galway led at half-time in extra-time by two points, 1-14 to 2-9. Two goals in three minutes TWO of the three goals in the game came inside three minutes: Cathal Mulryan sent in a shot for Galway in the opening minute and the Rosâ€â„¢ goalkeeper couldnâ€â„¢t keep it out; he appeared to have the evening sun in his eyes. A minute and half later at the other end, Conor Daly delivered a great ball for Donie Smithâ€â„¢s goal. In the 20th minute, Rosâ€â„¢ got their second goal, by Finbarr Cregg, set up by Donie Smith. A great save by Galway goalkeeper Tom Healy denied Donie Smith a goal a few minutes later and coming up to the half-time whistle Ian Burke was agonisingly close to a Galway goal but his drive went up and over off the crossbar. The contest ebbed and flowed but in the closing stages of â€Ëœnormalâ€â„¢ time it was a great comeback by Galway, from three points down, and it wasnâ€â„¢t a goal that kept them alive. It really was there for the taking if Roscommon could do the simple things right but they couldnâ€â„¢t. And Galway put in a huge effort in all areas, digging deep and every man showing massive personal character and pride in the Galway jersey. When it came to extra-time, all eyes were on the scoreboard, which never tells a lie. The extra-time scoreline was Galway 0-6 Roscommon 0-3. Galway vs Kildare will be played on Saturday week, April 20, at Oâ€â„¢Connor Park, Tullamore. Scorers for Galway: Shane Walsh 0-7 (five frees), Ian Burke 0-6, Cathal Mulryan 1-0; Shane Maughan, Gary Kelly, Paul Varley, Seán Moran 0-1 each. Scorers for Roscommon: Donie Smith 1-2 (0-2 frees), Ciarán Murtagh 0-4 (two frees), Finbar Cregg 1-0, Colin Compton 0-2; Enda Smith, Thomas Corcoran 0-1 (free), Michael Holland 0-1 each. Galway: Thomas Healy (Corofin); Liam Silke (Corofin), James Shaughnessy (Ballinasloe), Eoin Walsh (Moycullen); Mark Loughnane (St Gabrielâ€â„¢s), Gearóid Canavan (Salthill-Knocknacarra), Paul Varley (Cortoon Shamrocks); Fiontán Ó Curraoin, captain (Mícheál Breathnachs), Damien Comer (Annaghdown); Cathal Mulryan (Cortoon Shamrocks), Seán Moran (Claregalway), Shane Maughan (St Michaelâ€â„¢s); Shane Walsh (Kilkerrin-Clonberne), Adrian Varley (Cortoon Shamrocks), Ian Burke (Corofin). Subs., Thomas Flynn (Athenry), for Silke, 28 mins; Conor Rabbitte (Kilkerrin-Clonberne), for Maughan, 44 mins; Pádraig Cunningham (Ballinasloe), for Moran, 45 mins; Philip Ezergailis (Moycullen), for Canavan, 49 mins; Gary Kelly (Williamstown), for Comer, 59 mins; Damien Comer for Mulryan, 75 mins; Shane Maughan for Adrian Varley, 76 mins; Mattie Heskin (Salthill-Knocknacarra), for Cunningham, 78 mins. David Cunnane (St Michaelâ€â„¢s) was introduced as Galwayâ€â„¢s 15th man for extra-time. Roscommon: Tadhg Lowe (Boyle); David Murray (Pádraig Pearseâ€â„¢s), Ross Timothy (St Croanâ€â„¢s), Ciarán Cafferkey, captain (Western Gaels); Maurice Connaughton (St Croanâ€â„¢s), John McManus (Roscommon Gaels), Conor Daly (Pádraig Pearseâ€â„¢s); Fintan Kelly (Castlerea St Kevinâ€â„¢s), Thomas Corcoran (Strokestown); Finbar Cregg (Western Gaels), Cian Connolly (Roscommon Gaels), Enda Smith (Boyle); Donie Smith (Boyle), Colin Compton (Strokestown), Ciarán Murtagh (St Faithleachâ€â„¢s). Subs., Shane Killoran (Elphin), for Cregg, 52 mins; Ciarán Kilcline (Roscommon Gaels), for Enda Smith, 60 mins; Michael Holland (St Croanâ€â„¢s), for Kelly, 61 mins; Pádraig Corbett (Pádraig Pearseâ€â„¢s), for Killoran, 66 mins; Cillian Cox (Boyle), for Connaughton, 68 mins; Enda Smith, for Connolly, 75 mins. Mark Nally (Roscommon Gaels) was introduced as Roscommonâ€â„¢s 15th man for extra-time. Referee: Eamonn Oâ€â„¢Grady (Leitrim). Herald Sport Man of the Match: Ian Burke (Galway).