Late surge pulls Galway away from Leitrim
WATCHFUL EYE: Leitrim manager Andy Moran. Pic: David Fitzgerald, Sportsfile
It finished with a flattering scoreline for the home side, but the majority of this contest was highly competitive as Galway ran out nine-point winners over Leitrim in their Connacht GAA U-20 Football Championship Round 1 clash.
Leitrim had a wealth of experience on the line. Senior boss Andy Moran is also the U-20 manager. James Mannion, a candidate for the Galway minor position last year, is their coach and Fermanagh’s Ryan Jones is a selector with Barry McWeeney.
Colm Costello kicked six first-half points, five from play, to help Galway to a 1-9 to 0-7 lead at the turnaround.
An immensely entertaining half swung Galway’s way in the closing exchanges as Jack Folan blasted a goal to make the margin six.
Leitrim had a chance to respond from the penalty spot subsequently, but Jack Casey’s effort was waved wide.
Leitrim closed the gap to four points entering the final ten minutes. In the 53rd minute, Galway corner-back Shane Canavan was sent off for a second bookable offence while full-forward Paul Honeyman, who notched six points, was shown a black card for the same incident.
Galway outscored Leitrim 1-3 to 0-1 in that final period with the goal coming from captain Matthew Thompson after a botched short kickout.
Galway travel to Mayo next Wednesday for their Round 2 fixture while Leitrim are not in action until Round 3 when they face Mayo at home.
Colm Costello 0-10 (3 frees), Matthew Thompson 1-2 (1 free), Jack Folan 1-0, Cian Murphy, Sean Birmingham, Ronan Colleran, Cormac Greaney 0-1 each.
Paul Honeyman 0-6 (3 frees), Barry McNulty 0-3 (2 frees), Paddy Keane 0-2, Jack Casey, Darren Cox 0-1 each.
E McGrath; S Canavan, B Noone, J Folan; P Godwin, J Lonergan, D Costello; R Colleran, C Greaney; M Thompson, D Kilcommins, C Heneghan; C Costello, C Murphy, C Mulhern.
L O’Connor for Greaney, S Birmingham for Colleran (40), D Walsh for Heneghan (41), S Hansberry for Kilcommins (52), S O’Connor for Longeran (61).
B Cull; A Oberwan, T Hughes, R Cunningham; C Keegan, J Foley, E McNamara; B McNulty, B Guckian; M McBrien, P Keane, J Casey; J Tobin, P Honeyman, D Cox.
S Conlon for Cunningham (23), P Moran for Casey (42), B Goldrick for Hughes (43), T Plunkett for McBrien (48), C McLoughlin for Keegan (61).
S Corcoran (Mayo)
