Winning start for Kernan

New York 0-4 Galway 1-18

Six unanswered points inside the opening ten minutes paved the way for a comfortable first win for Galway's new senior football management, headed by former Armagh All-Ireland winning boss Joe Kernan.

Kernan watched the Tribesmen ease to an expected victory in tonight's Connacht FBD League final in the Bronx.

Despite kicking six wides in the opening half, Galway were fitter than their New York counterparts who wasted five scoring chances themselves in the opening 30 minutes.

Full-forward John Murtagh missed two frees before putting New York on the scoreboard after 15 minutes.

Murtagh, a former member of the Armagh senior side, was the only flicker of light in a New York side lacking creativity and scoring ability.

By the end of the opening period, Galway had run into a ten-point lead which they were never in danger of surrendering, despite the wides they continued to kick in the second half.

Kernan will have been impressed by the attacking strength of his team, with Darren Mullahy scoring two points from half-back.

A Sean Armstrong effort ricocheted off the inside of the post and wide keeping the score down.

Galway tried to force a goal opportunity but were unable to build on their impressive lead until Mullahy intercepted the ball in defence and began a move which ended with Eoin Concannon sliding the ball past New York goalkeeper Evan Byrne.

The final scoreline of 1-18 to 0-4 showed the gulf in class. it will no doubt be a boost to Kernan ahead of the 2010 National League campaign and with Michael Meehan and Padraig Joyce to return to the forward line, there should be a bit more bite about Galway.

Nicky Joyce scored well while Anthony Griffin combined effectively with Barry Cullinane in midfield in his first game. The Naomh Ana Leitirmore player did not look out of place alongside his more experienced colleagues.

NEW YORK: Evan Byrne; Dennis McCarthy, Alan Carolan (Joe Bell), Patsy Martin (Brendan McGourty); Gary Cornyn (Johnny Goldrick), Alan Raftery, Brendan O'Reilly (Aidan Power); Gary Reilly, Sean O'Neill (Michael Sloan); Mike Higgins (Kevin McGeeney), Robbie Moran, Gary Dowd; John Murtagh, Packie Downey (Shane Carty), Ronan Caffrey (Mark Dobbin).

GALWAY: Adrian Faherty (Paul Doherty); David Reilly, Finian Hanley, David Finnegan (Tomas Fahy); Declan Meehan, Diarmuid Blake, Darren Mullahy; Barry Cullinane (Gary O'Domhnaill), Anthony Griffin (Colin Healy); Cormac Bane (Joe Joe Greaney), Sean Armstrong, Niall Coleman; Eoin Concannon (Danny Cummins), Nicky Joyce, Fiachra Breathnach.