Cunningham goals seals win for Galway over battling Leitrim 

INTO FINAL: Jamie McGreal of Letrim is tackled by five Galway players, from left, Ryan Monaghan, Antaine Ó Laoi, Céin Darcy, Jack O'Neill and Jack Kirrane, 6, during the Connacht FBD League semi-final match between Leitrim and Galway at University of Galway Connacht GAA AirDome in Bekan, Mayo. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

FBD Connacht League semi-final

Galway 2-18 

Leitrim 1-17 

Promising Galway forward Cillian O Curraoin sent out a timely message to manager Padraic Joyce with a sublime display of shooting as the second string Tribesmen side eventually eased past Leitrim in the FBD League semi-final.

The Micheal Breathnach’s clubman shot 0-6 as Galway got their 2024 season off to a winning start against a Leitrim side without a win since they defeated Laois last March.

The sides were level eight times in the opening half as both sides made the most of the superb indoor facility at the Connacht GAA Air Dome in Bekan in front of a crowd of over 2,000.

Leitrim fielded a side with around a dozen regulars but Galway went with a development squad with only a handful of players who have tasted senior league or championship action so far in their careers.

But the likes of O Curraoin and Charlie Power made the most of the opportunity in the Galway attack, while further back Liam Boyle impressed and wing-back Daniel Flaherty, one of their more experienced players on the night, went forward to shoot two good points in the opening half.

His marker Shane Quinn, playing a more forward role than his customary sweeper role, kicked three excellent points before the break.

The sides exchanged points seven times in the opening 22 minutes before Galway put two between them for the first time when Flaherty and Antaine O Laoi scored, but Leitrim hit back and levelled from Pearce Dolan and Darragh Rooney before O Curraoin edged Galway 0-10 to 0-9 in front at the break.

Paul Keaney levelled inside a minute of the restart but Galway hit three in a row, two of them from O Curraoin, and then Flaherty and Cein Darcy combined to set up Rory Cunningham for a fine goal to lead by 1-14 to 0-11 after 46 minutes.

A couple of frees from Rooney reduced the margin but he was denied a goal by Galway custodian Oran Burke, who also did well to save from Donal Casey in an accomplished display between the posts after being drafted in for the selected Conor Flaherty.

Leitrim never gave up, even when they lost Conor Reynolds to a second yellow card, and they got back on level terms five minutes into added time when Barry McNulty fisted home a goal after a delivery from goalkeeper Nevin O’Donnell.

But Galway responded and Cunningham finished home his second goal to seal a final meeting against either Roscommon or London.

Scorers for Galway: R Cunningham 2-1 (0-1f), C O Curraoin 0-6 (0-3f), A O Laoi 0-3 (0-2f), C Power 0-3 (0-1m), D Flaherty 0-2, C Monaghan 0-1, S McGrath 0-1, R Monaghan 0-1.

Scorers for Leitrim: D Rooney 0-6 (0-4f), B McNulty 1-0, S Quinn 0-3, P Keaney 0-2, P Dolan 0-2, J Casey 0-1, M Diffley 0-1, J McGreal 0-1m, Riordan O’Rourke 0-1.

GALWAY: O Burke; L Boyle, B Mannion, D Varley; C Monaghan, J Kirrane, D Flaherty; C Brady, D Kilcommins; D Hunt, A O Laoi, J O’Neill; L Costello, C Power, C O Curraoin. 

Subs (rotated): K Long, C O’Neill, K O’Reilly, C Darcy, G Davoren, C Rafferty, R Monaghan, R Cunningham, B Goldrick, M Colleran, S McGrath.

LEITRIM: N O’Donnell; A Flynn, D Casey, C McGloin; J McGreal, M Diffley, E Sweeney; P Dolan, P Keaney; S Quinn, B McNulty, J Foley; Ryan O’Rourke, D Rooney, Riordan O’Rourke. 

Subs (rotated): K Gaffey, C McHugh, J Rooney, C Quinn, P Moran, J Casey, C Reynolds, K Clancy, S McLoughlin, R Oberwan.

Referee: Paul Lydon (Mayo).