Dessie Conneely stars as Moycullen produce 11-point dismissal of Shamrock Gaels

Dessie Conneely of Maigh Cuilinn was the star of the show. Pic: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

Connacht Club SFC quarter-final: Shamrock Gaels (Sligo) 1-9, Moycullen (Galway) 1-20 

Sharpshooter Dessie Conneely scored 1-10 and fellow forward Fionn McDonagh also starred as Moycullen justified their favourites tag with an 11-point dismissal of Shamrock Gaels in this eventually one-sided Connacht quarter-final at Tubbercurry’s Kilcoyne Park.

Moycullen, who are now into a semi-final against Leitrim Gaels, were four points clear at half-time, 0-10 to 1-3, a merited advantage that was built on a fine start when two points apiece from free-taker Dessie Conneely and Niall Walsh had them 0-4 to 0-0 ahead by the ninth minute.

Fionn McDonagh was also emerging as a major threat — he scored three points in the first-half — but Moycullen were struggling to contain the Deignan brothers, Lee and Shane.

Shamrock Gaels, who didn’t open their account until the 12th minute, rattled the favourites with a slick goal midway through the first-half. Lee Deignan’s perceptive pass found his brother Shane, who tucked the ball beyond Pierce Greally.

The Sligo side, who lost a lot of ball off their own restarts, also missed a number of chances to be closer on the scoreboard.

Moycullen revealed their class with a surge of points early in the second-half, including fine points from Sean O’Connor and Johnny Maloney.

Shamrock Gaels rallied to cut the gap to three points, 0-14 to 1-8, by the 44th minute.

Ciaran Kenny — brother of Glasgow Celtic striker Johnny Kenny — contributed 0-3 as part of this revival, including a fine two-pointer, and Shamrock Gaels were left to rue a goal chance for Dillon McDermott that was deflected out for a '45' after a vital touch from Moycullen goalkeeper Pierce Greally.

Moycullen survived this scare and added a further 1-6 to emphasise their class, the goal coming from a devastating 56th minute move that was finished with aplomb by an on form Dessie Conneely.

Scorers for Shamrock Gaels: S Deignan 1-1, L Deignan 0-4 (1 '45'), C Kenny 0-3 (1tp), D Quinn 0-1. 

Scorers for Moycullen: D Conneely 1-10 (7f), F McDonagh 0-4, N Walsh 0-2, J Maloney, P Kelly, D Wynne and S O’Connor 0-1 each.

SHAMROCK GAELS (SLIGO): D Lyons, O Conlon, E Lyons, D King, K McKenna, C Kenny, S Carroll, C Sheridan, D McDermott, P Kenny, L Deignan, G Barlow, S Deignan, D Quinn, J Foley. 

Subs: D Barlow for G Barlow (16), N Kenny for J Foley (HT), L Flynn for D King (56). 

MOYCULLEN (GALWAY): P Greally, A Claffey, M Maughan, E Kelly, S O’Connor, S Kelly, D Wynne, P Kelly, T Clarke, J Maloney, N Walsh, G Davoren, F McDonagh, F McDonagh, D Conneely. 

Subs: J McLoughlin for T Clarke (48), K Gallagher for F McDonagh (53), C Cox for G Davoren (58), C Corcoran for N Walsh (58), P Faherty for P Kelly (60).

Referee: I Monaghan (Roscommon).