Galway SFC: Annaghdown and Corofin advance, Caltra stay up

Busy afternoon of action on the local club football scene

Annaghdown and Corofin qualified for the last four of the Galway Senior Football Championship after defeating Claregalway and Monivea-Abbey respectively on a day of derbies at Tuam Stadium.

Damien Comer struck an equalising two-pointer before sub Eoin Reddington punched the winner in injury-time as Annaghdown finished strongly to prevail on a 1-20 to 2-16 scoreline.

The outstanding Diarmuid Kilcommins, scorer of five points, gave the eventual winners a slender half-time lead at 1-10 to 1-9. Comer finished to the net for Annaghdown on 10 minutes before his county teammate Conor Flaherty tucked away a Claregalway penalty four minutes later.

Sub Jack Mullen’s first two touches yielded 1-1, and along with further Flaherty scores appeared to leave Claregalway in pole position. But Annaghdown had the final say, landing a string of late points to carry the day in a hugely entertaining clash.

Earlier in the afternoon, Corofin led from pillar to post in a 0-15 to 1-6 victory over Monivea-Abbey.

Darragh Silke, Dylan McHugh and Jason Leonard (two) all struck first quarter two-pointers as Gary Delaney’s side went in armed with a 0-10 to 0-2 advantage after playing with the elements. The gap stretched to an unassailable 0-15 to 0-2 as Silke added his second orange flag and Ross Coen was twice on target.

Monivea-Abbey opened their second half account with a Trevor Mullins goal on 57 minutes, and though Glenn Kelly and Lee Kenny landed late twos, Corofin were still comfortable six-point winners in a disappointing tie.

Elsewhere, Caltra preserved their senior status for 2027 with a 3-12 to 1-15 victory over Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir.

The Connemara side had wind advantage in the first half but trailed by 2-6 to 0-9 at the break after goals from Kelan Murray and Shaun Keane. Caltra were also indebted to ‘keeper Odhrán Loughrey for an earlier penalty save from Tomás Ó Curraoin.

Last year’s Intermediate champions introduced Galway hurlers Padraic and Cathal Mannion, and though Leitir Móir levelled, the latter hammered home a goal to make it 3-7 to 0-12 on 45 minutes.

Naomh Anna netted late on through Fionn Mac Donnacha, but it wasn’t enough as they dropped to Intermediate for 2027.

Meanwhile, a goal from 2022 Minor Footballer of the Year Tomás Farthing after 65 seconds set An Spidéal on their way into the Intermediate Football Championship last four as they overcame St Michael’s in Pearse Stadium on a scoreline of 1-14 to 1-11.

The men from the Gaeltacht were six points up at the break despite playing against the breeze and had built up a sufficient gap in the second period to survive a late rally from St. Michael’s which included a Conal Gallagher goal.

Elsewhere, Athenry qualified for the North Board Primary Junior Football Championship final with a 2-13 to 0-16 semi-final win away to Williamstown. Headford will be their opponents in the decider.

Glinsk were 3-12 to 0-14 victors over Dunmore MacHales in the North Board Junior A Football Championship final played in Milltown.