Galway clinch fourth Connacht title in a row with dramatic Mayo win
FOUR IN A ROW: Cillian McDaid of Galway celebrates after kicking a point. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile.
Just. In the end, Mayo could not produce an equaliser.
A late Matthew Ruane two-point shot drifted wide to leave one half of the 27,137 crowd delighted and the other devastated.
Galway clinched their first Connacht championship four-in-a-row since 1966 with a gripping two-point win in Castlebar. It was a gripping contest full of heart and controversy.
Both teams finished with 14 due to late black cards for Matthew Tierney and Rory Brickenden.
The difference ultimately was orange flags. Mayo had 28 shots. Galway had 22. Mayo kicked two from eight attempts. Galway hit three from seven. Small margins that can swing a decider.
Three hours before throw-in, MacHale Park stewards were scampering up a ladder to fix a green and red flag that had dropped to half-mast.
A gale was blowing directly in from the town end. The home side won the toss but opted to go against it. They too ran into trouble, trailing 1-11 to 1-3 at the turnaround.
Mayo started brightly. In a bid to shake off Johnny McGrath, Ryan O’Donoghue combined expertly with Davitt Neary to rifle in an early goal despite McGrath’s best efforts on the line.
McHale clipped one more point over the next 28 minutes. Meanwhile, Paul Conroy went to work with left and right foot. Galway’s first six shots were from outside the arc. He slotted three of them, including a free.
The call to move McGrath away from goal backfired when the defender, who plays as a centre-back for his club Caherlistrane, roared away from O’Donoghue and broke in on goal. Matthew Ruane was harshly penalised for pulling his arm yet the outcome was a well-taken penalty by Matthew Tierney.
There were flashes of fire and rage all the field. O’Shea and Neary were both frustrated with over-carrying calls in promising positions. Cillian McDaid took issue with O’Donoghue’s reaction after he was punished for similar.
Both sides were forced to look to their bench at half-time. Rory Brickenden was replaced by Sam Callinan in the opening minutes. Diarmuid O’Connor was taken off at the break having picked up a yellow card. At that stage, John Maher was holding his ankle and he eventually made way for Cathal Sweeney.
With the wind at their backs and the home support in full voice, Mayo surged. O’Donoghue curled over a two-pointer. Ruane added another. O’Donoghue was at his tigerish best to turn over Seán Mulkerrin and punch over another from play.
His long-range free on the 52 minute left it level. That free was outside the arc but Connor Gleeson touched the ball as it floated over meaning it only counted as one.
The problem for Kevin McStay’s side is they could never get ahead. The outstanding McDaid kept them at bay. Conroy and substitute Liam Ó Conghaile kept them ticking over. A short kickout forced Brickenden to foul and concede a kickable free.
Enda Hession had a goal shot was well-saved by Gleeson. A late wide after the hooter was the signal for a maroon pitch invasion.
R. O’Donoghue 0-9 (6 frees, 1 tp); frees; D. McHale 1-2; M. Ruane 0-2 (1 tp); D. Neary, C. Reape (45) 0-1 each.
P. Conroy 0-7 (2 tp, 1 tpf); R. Finnerty 0-4 (3 frees); M. Tierney 1-1 (1 pen); C. McDaid 0-2; M. Thompson, S. Kelly, L O Conghaile 0-1 each.
C. Reape; J. Coyne, D. McHugh, R. Brickenden; E. Hession, D. McBrien, S. Coen; M. Ruane, J. Flynn; D. O’Connor, R. O’Donoghue, J. Carney; D. McHale, A. O’Shea, D. Neary.
S. Callinan for McBrien (9), P. Towey for O’Connor (half-time), F. Boland for Neary (61), F. Kelly for McHale (66).
R. Brickenden (61).
C. Gleeson; J. Glynn, S. Fitzgerald, L. Silke; D. McHugh, J. McGrath, S. Mulkerrin; P. Conroy, S. Kelly; C. D’Arcy, J. Maher, C. McDaid; M. Tierney, R. Finnerty, M. Thompson.
C. Sweeney for Maher (half-time), K. Molloy for Fitzgerald (41), C. Hernon for Mulkerrin (49), P. Cooke for Sweeney (61), L Ó Conghaile for Thompson (65).
M. Tierney (69).
P. Neilan (Roscommon).
Connor Gleeson’s save. Connor Gleeson’s fingertips turning a Ryan O’Donoghue free from a two-pointer to a one. Dylan McHugh’s block. Liam Ó Conghaile’s point. Galway produced the big moments down the stretch.
Mayo’s conversion. 28 shots to Galway’s 22. They missed crucial frees and shots from play.
Cillian McDaid. Another reminder why he was picked up by the AFL and why Galway are lucky to have him back. His point against the wind in the second half was sensational.
Mayo’s bench didn’t deliver when they needed them. Paul Towey missed three shots. None of them scored. Paddy Durcan was never introduced.
John Maher came off with a dead leg. Shane Walsh did not make the 26 due to two separate muscle injuries. Damien Comer was hurt in a recent challenge. Diarmuid O’Connor was also replaced due to injury.
Galway made some smart changes. Sean Fitzgerald was penalised for a few fouls and was quickly replaced by Kieran Molloy. Cian Hernon took over after a couple of Seán Mulkerrin turnovers. Peter Cooke made his return.
Paul Conroy was named Man of the Match.
A busy afternoon for Paddy Neilan. Galway’s penalty looked soft. Ryan O’Donoghue’s two-point free looked over before it was touched. However, the game was full of physicality and he policed steps consistently. A solid afternoon.
Galway welcome Dublin to Salthill in two weeks. Mayo will now face Cavan.
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