First half goals key as Maigh Cuilinn see off Dunmore

Walsh and Gallagher link up well

At Kenny Park

A SECOND win in Athenry in successive years for Maigh Cuilinn against Dunmore MacHales was predicated on their three first half goals against the wind.

The scoreboard end is traditionally the more profitable goal in Kenny Park and Dunmore shot 1-10 into it in the first half on Sunday. However, goals facing into the dressing rooms from Fiachra McDonagh, Killian Gallagher and Niall Walsh put Maigh Cuilinn into a two-point lead at the interval.

Seán Kelly, Dessie Conneely and Peter Cooke continue to be absent for Maigh Cuilinn, but Cathal Clancy’s side warmly welcomed Owen Gallagher back into the fray to face Dunmore after he transferred back to his home club St. Joseph’s in Antrim for the 2025 season.

Gallagher, the most effective club player in Galway for a couple of seasons, dovetailed well with Niall Walsh and Fionn McDonagh in the Maigh Cuilinn attack. Gallagher (0-4), Walsh (1-5) and McDonagh (0-4) accounted for most of their side’s scores, as Maigh Cuilinn were on target with 17 shots from 30 opportunities.

Dunmore led after the early exchanges thanks to a two-pointer from wing-back Dylan Brady, but they conceded their first goal in minute eight when a Fionn McDonagh mark from the resulting kickout led to his brother Fiachra finishing to the net.

Dunmore did well at restart time – winning 15 of their 24 kickouts and gathering possession from nine of Maigh Cuilinn’s 21 restarts – and goalkeeper Connor Gleeson kicked their second two-pointer from a free to bring the scoreline to 1-3 to 0-5.

Maigh Cuilinn’s passing and sharper movement created another goal chance for Fiachra McDonagh, who saw a shot saved by Gleeson only for Killian Gallagher to put home the rebound in minute 15.

Walsh and Fionn McDonagh extended the lead but back Dunmore came via Brendan Carr and Thomas Gleeson, and the younger Gleeson ran onto an excellent handpass from Matthew Redington in minute 22 for Dunmore’s opening goal.

Killian Gallagher sold two dummy solos to Dunmore players before being fouled for a penalty moments later, a spotkick that Connor Gleeson got down well to save from Walsh.

Walsh had the ball in the back of the net in minute 28, however. Dunmore’s defensive frailties were exposed when Dylan Brady had a kickpass blocked down by Killian Gallagher, leading to Walsh shooting past Gleeson.

A Thomas Gleeson two-pointer and a Padraic Costello free left Dunmore trailing 3-6 to 1-10 at half-time.

The sides were level, 3-8 to 0-14, by the end of the third quarter. Dunmore’s full-forward line was kept to 0-3 from play, but Barry Murray, Colm Costello and a pair of Padraig Costello frees saw the Shafts outscore Maigh Cuilinn in the quarter with Fionn McDonagh replying with his third and fourth points.

Owen Gallagher and Niall Walsh are a class apart in many club games and the duo took a stranglehold of the tie in the following minutes.

Gallagher sent over a pair of points while Walsh was on the money with a brace of two-pointers from the edge of the ’45-yard line.

Redington was positioned at the edge of the square as Dunmore looked to eat into their six-point deficit late on. They created a few goal chances in the final quarter, the best falling to Brendan Carr, whose shot was blocked when Dunmore had a 3v2 situation.

Dunmore converted 14 of 36 scoring chances when advantages are factored in, and did have the ball in the net in the final play when Redington flicked the ball over Maigh Cuilinn ‘keeper Nevin O’Donnell.

MAIGH CUILINN: N. O’Donnell; C. Corcoran, E. Kelly, M. Moughan; M. Hynes, D. Wynne, A. Claffey; S. O’Connor (0-2), P. Kelly (0-1); O. Gallagher (0-4), N. Walsh (1-5, two 0-2 scores), C. Cox; Fionn McDonagh (0-4), Fiachra McDonagh (1-0), K. Gallagher (1-0). Subs: G. Davoren, for Fionn McDonagh, temp, 11-13 mins; Davoren, for Hynes, half-time; J. Moloney, for Cox, 36 mins.

DUNMORE MACHALES: C. Gleeson (0-2, one 0-2 free); C. Comer, S. Murray, D. Forde; D. Brady (0-2, 0-2 score), R. Walkin, L. Murray; M. Redington (1-0), S. McGrath; B. Carr (0-1), T. Gleeson (1-3, one 0-2 score), J. Slattery; B. Murray (0-1), P. Costello (0-5, 0-4 frees), C. Costello (0-1). Subs: J. Coen, for B. Murray, 48 mins; S. Mitchell, for Brady, 60 mins.

REFEREE: James Molloy.

HERALD SPORT MAN OF THE MATCH: Niall Walsh (Maigh Cuilinn).