Competent Galway grind out win

Galway 0-12 Roscommon 0-8

And, if there was nothing unexpected about Galway's win in Pearse Stadium yesterday, the holders advanced in the Bank of Ireland Connacht football championship largely because their greater experience enabled them to adapt better.

However, the decisive factor in the outcome was the twin contribution of seven points from placed balls from Padraic Joyce and championship debutant Michael Meehan in the first half hour.

In that context, it was notable Roscommon conceded the wind advantage after winning the toss, a decision manager Tom Carr justified afterwards on the basis of it being standard practice.

Joyce had the home-side in front after 80 seconds from a free earned by Matthew Clancy's strong run to the edge of the goal mouth, but while they monopolised possession at stages, progress was limited.

Roscommon defended well up to the point where they started to give away frees which was to prove costly but they were limited to occasional forward breaks in which left half-forward Jonathan Dunning was most prominent. Crucially, they gained little clean ball around midfield, even from broken play, but their tactic of having the half-forwards drop back clogged up space in the outer limits of their half of the field.

Nevertheless, Galway made headway on a fairly continuous basis at half-forward, mainly through Paul Clancy (who was to emerge as their most consistent performer overall) and Matthew Clancy. Inside, Joyce was always influential, Derek Savage promised a lot except that he found it hard to get away from John Nolan and Paul Noone in turn, while 18-year-old Meehan contributed on a fairly regular basis in his first senior championship game.

After 17 minutes play, Galway had a lead of just a single point, which was anything but a satisfactory return for their efforts. Even with a significantly greater flow of possession, they struggled to find the right formula between using the long ball and running at the Roscommon backs. What became crucial was their ability to get into scoring positions which earned them vital frees. And with Joyce and Meehan unerring from a variety of angles, they increased their lead to four points by the 21st minute.

Roscommon, finding it increasingly difficult to penetrate, were lucky not to concede a goal a few minutes later when Declan Meehan put Matthew Clancy through. However, the chance was lost when Clancy lost control and ran the ball over the end line.

At the break, it was 0-9 to 0-3 for Galway.

Galway, who gained hugely from the introduction of Jarlath Fallon at left half-forward for Derry O'Brien, came under early pressure. Frankie Dolan, who was to become much more involved, kicked over a good score just a minute after the resumption. It was notable in their early raids that Galway concentrated on playing the ball down the right flank towards Savage, who was to be beaten most times by a tenacious Paul Noone.

It was noteworthy that Galway goalkeeper Alan Keane, who didn't inspire confidence on a few occasions in the opening half, made an important catch from a high ball before Seamus O'Neill further boosted Roscommon with another score from play. However, their play degenerated, the major problem being that good work from the backs was often spoiled by some wild kicking.

In contrast, good combined movements produced points for Galway through Sean Óg de Paor in the 47th minute and Paul Clancy in the 52nd minute, which gave them a huge psychological boost.

Over the course of the remaining 20 minutes, Joe Bergin wasted several good scoring chances and Michael Donnellan made a brief appearance as a blood substitute (before coming on near the end for a mere 20 seconds).

Just before that, Galway might have conceded a goal but for a timely tackle by Gary Fahey on Dunning. And while it might have ignited the crowd, it would have been too much to expect that it would cheat the holders out of a merited victory.

*At times, John Bannon's refereeing seemed to be affected by the conditions. Apart from a few incorrect decisions, he wasn't inclined to penalised two-handed tackles.

Scorers for Galway: P Joyce 0-5 frees; M Meehan 0-3 (0-1 free, 0-1 fifty); P Clancy 0-2; K Walsh and S Óg de Paor 0-1 each.

Roscommon: J Dunning 0-3; N Dineen (free),

S Lohan, F Nolan, S O'Neill and F Grehan 0-1 each.

GALWAY: A Keane; M Comer, G Fahey, R Fahey; D Meehan, K Fitzgerald, S Óg de Paor; K Walsh (capt), J Bergin; P Clancy, M Clancy, D O'Brien;

D Savage, P Joyce, M Meehan.

Subs: J Fallon for O'Brien (28th minute); M Donnellan for M Clancy (72nd).

ROSCOMMON: S Curran (capt); P Noone,

D Casey, J Nolan; M Beirne, F Grehan, B Higgins; S O'Neill, S Lohan; R Cox, G Cox, J Dunning;

N Dineen, G Lohan, F Dolan.

Subs: J Tiernan for R Cox (49th minute); K Mannion for Dineen (53rd); E Towey for Higgins (56th).

Referee: J Bannon (Longford).