Galway notch first league win under Kernan

GALWAY 1-20 MONAGHAN 1-14

NFL DIVISION 1

Galway bounced back from last weekend's reversal by Mayo to register their first league win under Joe Kernan.

New boss Kernan made nine changes in total, bringing key forward Michael Meehan in for his first start of the campaign.

Conor McManus pointed Monaghan ahead after just 20 seconds and the Salthill spectators were treating to a free-flowing opening as Nicky Joyce, Garreth Bradshaw and Michael Meehan landed scores for Galway, and Paul Finlay (free) and Tommy Freeman added the the visitors' tally.

A free from Joyce edged the Tribesmen ahead, before goalkeeper Adrian Faherty, who sat out the Mayo game, got down well to deny McManus as the Monaghan wing forward bore down on the Galway goal.

Kernan had kept his players out on the pitch for a lengthy warm-up and they were clearly fired-up to make amends for their poor showing in Castlebar.

Joyce took his tally to 0-4 as Galway powered into a double scores lead at 0-10 to 0-5, with Meehan and Sean Armstrong, who sent over three long range frees, also impressing in front of the posts.

Galway's spurt before half-time saw them turn around with a 0-12 to 0-7 buffer but Monaghan seized the initiative on the restart, collecting four points on the bounce.

Vinny Corey, McManus and Freeman split the posts and Finlay also sent over an excellent score from the sideline.

Meehan opened Galway's account for the second period, 11 minutes in, but another pinpoint free from Finlay reduced the arrears back to a single point and the game was there for the taking.

The Farney men suffered a setback when Finlay was sent-off for his second bookable offence. The Ballybay clubman received his marching orders after clashing off-the-ball with Galway centre-back Diarmuid Blake.

Impressively, Galway strung together a run of six points without reply as Meehan (0-3), Joyce, Paul Conroy and Niall Coleman showed good accuracy when presented with scoring opportunities.

There was still time for two late goals as Brendan McKenna found the Galway net and Joyce, taking his tally 1-5, left-footed under the advancing Duffy from a tight angle in injury-time to cap off an encouraging display from Kernan's men.