Claregalway secure second place with win over Mountbellew-Moylough

Goals from O'Riordan, Mullen and Fitzmaurice

Claregalway 3-14

Mountbellew-Moylough 1-13

CLAREGALWAY claimed second place in Senior Football Championship Group 1 ahead of Mountbellew-Moylough on the back of a sound second half display.

Goals in the second period for the Balchies came from Jack Mullen with his first touch and Daniel Fitzmaurice, but it was Ger O’Riordan’s shot that crept over the line just before half-time that proved an important moment in the winning of the game.

Owen Morgan had squared a ball for O’Riordan and although his shot in minute 30 hit the butt of the post and was gathered by Sean Kelly in the goalmouth, the umpires at the town end of Tuam Stadium ruled it had crossed the line.

Ciarán Mulhern did point before the break to leave Mountbellew-Moylough leading 1-9 to 1-7, but that goal provided a platform for Claregalway after half-time as Mullen shot 1-3 coming off the bench.

Mountbellew-Moylough started with the 2021 County title-winning full-forward line of Patrick Kelly, Eoin Finnerty and the returning Barry McHugh for the first time in a few seasons. Jack Glynn found himself tagging each of the three at stages of the opening half.

Kelly and Finnerty have been missing in recent years, along with other members of that 2021 team, for various reasons, and while the inside trio contributed 1-6 of Mountbellew-Moylough’s tally on Saturday evening, they were understandably lacking match practice as the game progressed.

Galway goalkeeper Conor Flaherty lined out at full-forward for Claregalway and opened the scoring in minute three. John Daly replied with a two-pointer, the first of four that Mountbellew-Moylough scored in the contest, all from different sources.

Páraic Commins levelled matters with a free and Mountbellew-Moylough struck for the game’s opening goal in minute seven. Barry McHugh won a turnover, allowing Michael Burke to send a ball the way of Finnerty, who spun around Conor Campbell to finish past Claregalway ‘keeper Eamon McGrath.

Kelly made Mountbellew-Moylough’s advantage four soon after. Claregalway’s response was swift through points from midfielder Bríon Connolly, O’Riordan and Jason Reilly to trail by 1-3 to 0-5 after 11 minutes.

Managed by Damien McHugh, who was over Cortoon Shamrocks last year, Mountbellew-Moylough were four up again by the closing minutes of the half thanks to points from Leo Donnellan, Barry McHugh (a two-pointer and a free) and sub Sean Kelly, who scored with his first involvement after replacing the injured James Foley.

O’Riordan’s goal was a tonic. Wing-back Dara Whelan, who had a fine game carrying ball for Claregalway, made the initial incision for the major.

Mountbellew-Moylough goalkeeper James Foley made three good saves in the third quarter, signs that Claregalway were creating inroads through the Mountbellew-Moylough defence. At the opposite end, McGrath dived to his right to pull off a point-blank stop from McHugh in minute 34.

Claregalway were level early in the second half through Commins and O’Riordan. Mountbellew-Moylough would score just twice in the half, both of them two-pointers from Billy Mannion in minute 35 and Finnerty in minute 49.

Claregalway, who retained possession from nine of 15 kickouts, took control of proceedings after Mannion’s two-pointer. Reilly reduced their arrears and Mullen got their second goal in minute 39 upon his introduction.

Mullen gathered possession ahead of Colin Murray from a Morgan Morrin pass and swivelled before goaling. Mullen would score 1-2 from his first four touches of the ball, following his goal with points in minutes 43 and 48 to push Claregalway 2-12 to 1-11 ahead. A Galway U-20 in 2024, Mullen missed Claregalway’s win over Killannin through injury and is a young forward of real ability.

Finnerty’s two-pointer brought Mountbellew-Moylough back within touching distance, but the flow of the play was going Claregalway’s way more often and Daniel Fitzmaurice had their third goal in minute 51 after his shot looped into the net.

Conor Campbell and Mullen (free) added points for Claregalway before the final whistle as a double rainbow could be seen overhead looking towards the centre of Tuam.

CLAREGALWAY: E. McGrath; D. Hughes, C. Campbell (0-1), J. Glynn; R. Flaherty, D. Whelan, C. Callaghan; D. Tarmey, B. Connolly (0-1); P. Commins (0-4, one 0-2 free, 0-1 free), J. Lonergan, J. Reilly (0-2); G. O’Riordan (1-2), C. Flaherty (0-1, free), O. Morgan. Subs: M. Morrin, for Callaghan, half-time; J. Mullen (1-3, 0-1 free), for Commins, 38 mins; L. O’Connor, for R. Flaherty, 43 mins; D. Fitzmaurice (1-0), for C. Flaherty, 50 mins; J. Ramsey, for Reilly, 59 mins.

MOUNTBELLEW-MOYLOUGH: M. Foley; B. Noone, B. Mannion (0-2, 0-2 score), C. Murray; J. Foley, J. Daly (0-2, 0-2 score), F. Colleran; M. Burke, O. O’Reilly; C. Mulhern (0-1), L. Donnellan (0-1), C. Ryan; P. Kelly (0-1), E. Finnerty (1-2, one 0-2 score), B. McHugh (0-3, one 0-2 score, 0-1 free). Subs: S. Kelly (0-1), for J. Foley inj., 26 mins; T. Shields, for Ryan, 45 mins; M. Barrett, for O’Reilly, 56 mins; C. Fallon, for Colleran, 60 mins; P. Mannion, for McHugh, 60 mins.

REFEREE: Austin O’Connell.

HERALD SPORT MAN OF THE MATCH:

Dara Whelan (Claregalway).