Kelly wins it for Monivea-Abbey in stoppage time

Monivea-Abbey 0-17

Naomh Anna Leitir Móir 1-13

By Gearóid McGann

At Pearse Stadium

A LATE Glenn Kelly point, his ninth of the day, secured Monivea-Abbey their first win of the 2026 Galway Senior Football Championship in Pearse Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Following on from his tally of 2-9 in the opening round, Kelly gave another exhibition of kicking to help his side edge over the line.

Cillian McDaid opening the scoring in the second minute and the in-form Kelly followed up with a two-pointer on five minutes. Dylan Seoighe replied almost immediately for Naomh Anna Leitir Móir.

Oisín Mac Donnacha converted a free on the 13th minute to make it 0-3 to 0-2. Monivea-Abbey then kicked four points in a row through a two-pointer from Shane King, another McDaid point and a fine score from Cian Dolan after he was set up by Paddy Mullins following a Lee Kenny kick pass.

Leitir Móir ended their 13-minute scoring drought with a point from Eoin Ó Fátharta. McDaid restored Monivea’s five-point advantage with his third of the day before the Connemara side struck the game’s opening goal.

A kick pass from Warren Seoighe found Mac Donnacha who in turn picked out Tomás Ó Curraoin and he slotted low passed Denis Farragher.

Points were traded between Niall Mannion and Chris Seoighe to make it 0-9 to 1-4 heading into first half stoppage time.

A Mannion effort from out the field then ended up in the back of the Leitir Móir net but it was disallowed as a Monivea-Abbey player was adjudged to have been in the square. Kelly concluded the first half scoring by a majestic two-pointer with an outside of the boot kick.

Naomh Anna Leitir Móir were much improved after the break and hit the first five points of the half through a brace of two-pointers from Oisín Mac Donnacha and a point from his brother Fionn.

After Mannion levelled in the 38th minute, Fionn Mac Donnacha restored the black and amber side’s lead with a great score from out on the right. A free from Kelly was matched by a point from Dylan Seoighe to leave it 1-11 to 0-13 with 45 minutes played.

Kelly equalised with a free that was brought forward and then moments later kicked his side in front with a point from play. Leitir Móir retook the lead on 56 minutes when Ó Curraoin converted a two-point free.

Kelly made it 0-16 to 1-13 with a free in the 58th minute. A frantic added time period saw turnovers aplenty with both sides guilty of missing chances to go in front. However, when Shane King found Kelly with a pass, the sharpshooter duly fired over, much to the delight of the Monivea-Abbey supporters.

Leitir Móir mounted one last attack to try and find an equaliser but after Farragher palmed Chris Seoighe’s effort out for a 45, referee Anthony Coyne blew the full-time whistle, to the ire of the Leitir Móir players and supporters.

Naomh Anna Leitir Móir face Dunmore MacHales in round three knowing only a win will give them a chance of avoiding a relegation battle and securing a spot in the preliminary quarter finals. Champions Maigh Cuilinn are next up for Monivea-Abbey.

MONIVEA-ABBEY: D. Farragher; J. Burke, C. Mannion, C. Dolan (0-1), L. Ryan, C. Cooley, L. Kenny, T. Mullins, D. Burke, A. Ryan, C. McDaid (0-3), G. Kelly (0-9, 0-2 frees, two 0-2 scores), S. King (0-2, one 0-2 score), P. Mullins, N. Mannion (0-2). Subs: J. Collins, for Ryan, HT; R. Maloney, for Burke, 41 mins; B. Moran, for Mullins, 48 mins; K. O’Reilly, for Mannion, 48 mins; P. Muldowney, for Ryan, 57 mins.

NAOMH ANNA LEITIR MÓIR: C. Ó Flatharta; C. Mac Donncha, S. A. Ó Ceallaigh, E. Ó Flatharta, D. Seoighe, T. Ó Curraoin (1-2, one 0-2 score), M. Bairéad, C. Seoighe (0-1), C. Ó Catháin, W. Seoighe, J. Ó Griofa, E. Mac Donnacha, D. Seoighe (0-2), O. Mac Donnacha (0-5, 0-1 free, two 0-2 scores), F. Mac Donnacha (0-2). Subs: E. Ó Fátharta (0-1), for Ó Catháin, 10 mins.

REFEREE: Anthony Coyne.

HERALD SPORT MAN OF THE MATCH: Glenn Kelly (Monivea Abbey).