Galway couldn't have expected to win by scoring only one point in the second half
By JIM CARNEY WITH THE wind at their backs in the first half, Galway laboriously built up an interval lead of four points: 1-5 to 0-4. But in the second half, Mayo wiped out that deficit inside ten minutes, and they held their opponents to a paltry one point for the whole second period, which lasted 38 minutes. Paul Conroy's goal in the 33rd minute of the first half made it look promising for Galway on the scoreboard at the break, but on the evidence of statistics, and from what we could see out on the field minute by minute, it wasn't a convincing lead. Mayo had dominated possession, but wasted most of it; they created 19 scoring opportunities in that opening half but availed of only four of them. Galway were much more economical, with six scores from ten chances, but without the goal 0-5 would have been a very poor return, wind-assisted.[private] 1st minute. Galway attacked from the throw-in, having got a soft free; there was a first touch for Senior Championship debutant Mark Hehir and the ball was worked through to Padraic Joyce at top of the right but his high delivery to the goalmouth was untypically speculative and fell into the arms of the Mayo goalkeeper. An early chance wasted by Galway. 2 mins. There was no confidence in Mayo's free-taking going into the game, and when Alan Dillon, an experienced player, got his first chance from a placed ball, after a Jonathan Duane foul on Seamus O'Shea, the Mayo captain shot a bad wide. For his second free, three minutes later, Dillon worked a 1-2 and then shot badly wide from play. 6 mins. Another free for Mayo, this one much further out. It was taken by goalkeeper Robert Hennelly and pointed. 8 mins. Cormac Bane went back into his own defence to win the ball; he kicked very long and accurately to Padraic Joyce but the long-serving Killererin man was wide going for a point. 9 mins. A score at long last for Galway, off a free by Cormac Bane, for a foul on Paul Conroy by the Mayo full-back. Mayo 0-1 Galway 0-1. 10 mins. A goal opportunity for Galway but wing-back Gary O'Donnell, supporting his attack on the right, blazed wide across the face of the goal after taking a brilliant pass by Padraic Joyce, in a move started by Gary Sice. 12 mins. Mayo defender Tom Cunniffe got a yellow card after the referee harshly ruled against him in a tussle with Cormac Bane. Bane pointed the free. 16 mins. Mayo wide from a close-in free taken by Aidan O'Shea, their third freetaker at this stage. 21 mins. Mayo brought up their goalkeeper again, this time to take a 45. It dropped short and Andy Moran could have picked up the pieces but he shot wide. 22 mins. The Mayo defence gave the ball away and Cormac Bane pointed from play. Galway 0-3 Mayo 0-2; all three Galway points by Cormac Bane. 25 mins. A self-inflicted scare in the Galway defence. On wet ground to the left of his posts, goalkeeper Adrian Faherty spilled the ball, conceding a 45 which his opposite number Robbie Hennelly pointed. Galway 0-3 Mayo 0-3. 26 mins. Greg Higgins started a Galway move which Gareth Bradshaw carried on as far as Padraic Joyce who pointed skilfully, left-footed from the right corner: his only score of the game. Galway 0-4 Mayo 0-3. 29 mins. Cormac Bane's fourth point, his second off a free, this one for a foul by Mayo full-back Alan Feeney on Paul Conroy. Galway 0-5 Mayo 0-3. 30 mins. Mayo's free-taking problems continued with a poor effort by Aidan O'Shea (another wide), after a foul by Jonathan Duane. 31 mins. The value of Championship experience: a sweetly-struck point for Mayo by Trevor Mortimer up from left half-back to support his attack, taking a pass from the hard-working Andy Moran and kicking the ball over the crossbar. Galway 0-5 Mayo 0-4. 32 mins. Joe Bergin injured in midfield but he recovered. Mayo again looked to their goalkeeper when they got a long-range free: wide again. 33 mins. A goal for Galway! A huge delivery by Gary Sice was parried by a Mayo defender as hands went up for the dropping ball; it broke to the lurking Paul Conroy who failed in his attempt to pick it up, but he lashed it low to the net from close-in, unmarked. Galway 1-5 Mayo 0-4. 35 mins. Galway's 20-year-old centre-forward Mark Hehir hit hard by Mayo left full-back Keith Higgins. A red card offence but the referee, after consulting his officials, produced only a yellow card. Half-time. Galway 1-5 Mayo 0-4. 35 mins 20 secs. Second half under way: Mayo straight into the attack and right half-forward Kevin McLoughlin shot badly wide from a good position. 36 mins. Alan Dillon fouled by Greg Higgins: Dillon point off the free. Galway 1-5 Mayo 0-5. 38 mins. Cormac Bane, still working very hard, forced a 45 which goalkeeper Adrian Faherty went up to take but he kicked it well wide of the target. 39 mins. Andy Moran, outstanding up front for Mayo, put Alan Freeman through for a point, which would have been a goal if Galway â€Ëœkeeper Adrian Faherty hadn't been alert and got a hand to the ball, well supported by Jonny Duane. Galway 1-5 Mayo 0-6. 40 mins. Cillian O'Connor point for Mayo, from play, another one that was nearly a goal, and again the scoring pass was provided by Andy Moran. Galway 1-5 Mayo 0-7. 43 mins. Andy Moran on the ball for Mayo yet again, but again poor shooting by his captain, Dillon: another Mayo wide. 45 mins. A third successive point for Mayo, this one by Kevin McLoughlin, from play. Level pegging now: Galway 1-5 Mayo 0-8. 48 mins. A sign that Mayo had upped their performance, and that Galway were now under intense pressure as Padraic Joyce, trying to get free to shoot, was forced to the ground by defenders closing in from all sides and it resulted in a free-out to Mayo. 49 mins. Mayo in the lead, for the first time since the 6th minute of the game. Once again, Galway goalkeeper Adrian Faherty was brave in denying a forward close in (Cillian O'Connor), but the ball broke to Andy Moran who made space for himself and shot a superb point. Mayo 0-9 Galway 1-5. 50 mins. Galway, badly in need of scores, left to rue a Gareth Bradshaw wide. 51 mins. Surprise as Galway goal-scorer Paul Conroy is taken off, replaced by Matthew Clancy. 52 mins. Galway's only score of the second half, a point by Eoin Concannon from a great pass by Padraic Joyce, in a move started by sub Diarmuid Blake. The score came from point-blank range; it looked easier to hit a goal than a point. Back to level pegging: Mayo 0-9 Galway 1-6. 54 mins. An opportunity for Galway to regain the lead, but Padraic Joyce shot wide. 55 mins. Alan Freeman goal effort for Mayo, well blocked by the alert Jonathan Duane at left full-back, conceding a 45 which Mayo goalkeeper Robbie Hennelly sent wide. 56 mins. Shock for Galway fans in the 19,375 attendance as Cormac Bane, the one Galway forward capable of kicking the ball over the bar, is taken off and replaced by a ring-rusty Michael Meehan. 57 mins. Dillon to Moran; a perfect pass by Moran, on the run, to Freeman; the Galway defence loose and unable to get in tackles; a brilliant goal by Alan Freeman. The decisive score of the game. Mayo 1-9 Galway 1-6. Galway would not score again. 62 mins. Ronan McGarrity on for Mayo, replacing Séamus O'Shea who had played very well. For Galway, Michael Meehan off target from a free. 63 mins. Alan Freeman point from play; Galway had given the ball away attempting to play a short free. Mayo 1-10 Galway 1-6. 64 mins. Galway made no use of a free outfield. Mayo made better use of the ball when they got it back: sub McGarrity, always a star playing against Galway, shot a skyscraper point from the right wing and saluted the crowd, knowing the game was over as a contest. Mayo 1-11 Galway 1-6. 72 mins. Final score of the game, a Mayo point from play by sub Enda Varley. â€Â¢ â€Â¢ â€Â¢ 73 mins. Final whistle: Mayo 1-12 Galway 1-6.[/private]