Two from two for Galway's U-20s

Sligo up next

TWO goals in a three-minute spell from Matthew Collins and Ciarán Mulhern were the key moments as Galway defeated Leitrim to make it back-to-back victories in the Connacht U-20 Football Championship last Wednesday evening.

St. Mary's GAA Park in Cloone failed a morning pitch inspection and the fixture was moved to the provincial body's home in windy Bekan. And though Leitrim held the upper hand for the much of the opening half, they were dealt a hefty double-blow before the break as Galway turned a two-point deficit into a five-point advantage and were effective front-runners thereafter.

"When the draw came out, we knew having a break in week three that the most important thing was having four points on the board," Galway manager Kevin Johnson told Herald Sport on his side's wins over Roscommon and now Leitrim.

"It allows you with the tight timeframe to get all your bodies right. We had to make a couple of switches there, just some tired bodies and a few little niggles. We've two weeks now to really look forward to Sligo."

Though Leitrim were the more wasteful side on the evening, they held the upper hand in territory and possession on their way to a 0-6 to 0-4 lead on 24 minutes. Paul Honeymoon, one of four players to feature in their National League campaign at senior level, kicked a pair of sublime two-point frees, while Adam Gethins and Ronan Fox were also on target.

Maitiú Ó Domhnaill and Ross Coen points from play, along with two Mikey Mulryan frees, accounted for Galway’s total before they sparked into life with a quickfire 2-1 that turned the tie in their favour.

Matthew Collins collected a terrific pass from Ross Coen and left his marker for dead before blasting to the roof of the Leitrim net on 26 minutes. It was a brilliant score, one that gave Galway a lead they would not relinquish.

Killian Joyce added a point before Galway struck for goal number two. Ciarán Mulhern has pace to burn and utilised it to dart through the heart of the Leitrim defence, trading passes with Collins and palming to an open net on 29 minutes. 2-5 to 0-6 up at the break, Galway weren't for catching.

"Matthew saw the opportunity, saw the gap, took on his man, and it was a brilliant finish. And then Ciarán, we moved him in there at 14, he has pace and energy. It was a brilliant one-two. They came at the right time. The goals last week [against Roscommon] also came at the right time," said Johnson.

Galway strengthened their position with early second half points from Coen, Mulhern and Collins. Leitrim’s sole reply in that spell came from Jack Kelly and though they trailed by seven points, Galway defender Vinnie Gill's sin-binning on 40 minutes offered a glimmer of hope.

"The most important thing for us was not to give any oxygen to Leitrim. I don't think we did," said Johnson.

Scores from Jack Kelly and Ronan Fox amounted to an inadequate return for Leitrim while playing with an extra man, and Galway would see it out when restored to a full complement with their back division outstanding up against a highly rated Leitrim attack.

"Daniel Hughes, Olan Kelly, Richard McGrath, I have to name as well," said Johnson of his standout defenders. "Paul Honeyman is one of the best senior footballers in Leitrim. Jack Kelly is rated in the top ten up-and-coming footballers in the country. And then, of course, Ruairí O'Rourke plays for the Leitrim seniors as well. For us to really kind of win that battle, I think we did, was really important."

Galway's tally kept moving with the influential Maitiú Ó Domhnaill's second point and a brace coming from sub Eoinín Ó Cualáin, with Eanna McNamara and Kelly accounting for Leitrim’s late scores.

GALWAY: C. Walsh (Claregalway); D. Hughes (Claregalway), O. Kelly (Annaghdown), V. Gill (Corofin); C. Rafferty (Corofin), R. McGrath (Caherlistrane), C. Mitchell (Tuam Stars); S. McGlinchey (Tuam Stars), P. Keaney (Clifden); C. Mulhern (1-1, Mountbellew-Moylough), R. Coen (0-2, Corofin), M. Ó Domhnaill (0-2, An Cheathrú Rua); K. Joyce (0-1, Corofin), M. Mulryan (0-2, 0-2 frees, captain, Caltra), M. Collins (1-1, Claregalway). Subs: H. Keady (Oranmore-Maree), for Keaney, 39 mins; B. O’Malley (Kilconly), for Mitchell, 50 mins; E. Ó Cualáin (0-2, An Cheathrú Rua), for Coen, 50 mins; C. O’Donnell (Headford), for McGlinchey, 56 mins; N. de Paor (Oranmore-Maree), for Joyce, 56 mins.

LEITRIM: S. Kerr; N. Torsney, O. Foley, D. Gardiner; R. Fox (0-2), D. Greenan, L. Braam Farrell; E. McNamara (0-1, joint captain), C. Moran (joint captain); R. O’Rourke, J. Kelly (0-3, 0-1 free), F. McManus; J. McBrien, P. Honeyman (0-4, two 0-2 frees), A. Gethins (0-1). Subs: C. McLaughlin, for McManus, 39 mins; G. Gallagher, for O’Rourke, 48 mins; N. Cox, for McBrien, 52 mins; C. Reynolds, for Gethins, 52 mins; R. Connolly, for Torsney, 57 mins.

REFEREE: Jimmy Donohue (Roscommon).

HERALD SPORT MAN OF THE MATCH:

Ross Coen (Galway).