Thompson fires Galway past Leitrim into the FBD League final

FINAL BOOKED: Galway book their place in the FBD FL final overcoming Leitrim. Picture: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

FBD FL: Galway 2-19 Leitrim 0-14 

All Star nominee Matthew Thompson may not see action for Galway until the summer but he exactly what he can offer as he inspired Galway to book a place in the FBD League final.

The Salthill/Knocknacarra clubman, who is heading to the USA to study for several months, hit 2-6 to see off Leitrim at Tuam Stadium.

Leitrim were much more competitive than last week’s reversal against Roscommon with keeper Killian Gaffey landing three first half orange flags. But by finishing sixth in the round-robin stage, they’ll have to be content with a Plate decider against London next weekend.

Galway made the perfect start with the first goal after just two minutes. Liam Costello won possession before supplying Kieran Molloy. Thompson was free inside and last year’s Young Player of the Year nominee made no mistake finding the top corner.

The Tribesmen were expected to push on in front of their home support but it was the visitors who responded. Gaffey missed an earlier two-point effort but made amends with his second attempt. Riordan O’Rourke levelled from play on seven minutes.

Mulryan pointed for Galway before Gaffey’s second dead ball put Steven Poacher’s team ahead. Galway replied through Mulryan and an Alan Naughton brace to lead 1-4 to 0-5. But Eanna McNamara’s score was followed by Gaffey’s third conversion to restore Leitrim’s advantage.

Leitrim finished with two points from Ryan O’Rourke and Jack Kelly to hold a 0-10 to 1-4 advantage at half-time. Galway needed a strong restart and it came from a Thompson orange flag inside 60 seconds. The Salthill-Knocknacarra equalised with a free on 35 minutes.

The sides shared parity again six minutes later when after Conor Quinn and Tom Prior pushed Leitrim two clear, Cillian Ó Curraoin found the range from a placed ball to make it 1-9 to 0-12. When Kelly pointed for Leitrim again on 43 minutes, it was the last time they led.

Galway got the defining score on the three quarter mark when Shane McGrath won a penalty which Thompson dispatched to the net. Molloy then kicked a two-pointer from over 50 yards putting four between before Prior’s second of the afternoon gave Leitrim a glimmer of hope.

However, it proved to be their last as Galway concluded with white flags from Brian Cogger, McGrath, Oisin McDonagh, Jack O’Neill and Jack Nolan. Thompson signed off with a ’45 and an orange flag to give Galway the spoils and set up a meeting with Mayo or Roscommon in the final.

Scorers for Galway: M Thompson 2-6 (1-0 pen, 2 0-2 scores, 0-1f); M Mulryan, A Naughton (1f), C Ó Curraoin (1 0-2 free), K Molloy (1 0-2 score) 0-2 each; J O’Neill, J Nolan, S McGrath, B Cogger, O McDonagh 0-1 each.

Scorers for Leitrim: K Gaffey 0-6 (3 0-2 frees); J Kelly, T Prior 0-2 each; Riordan O’Rourke, E McNamara, Ryan O’Rourke, C Quinn 0-1 each.

GALWAY: C Flaherty; M Moughan, C Carson, A Kavanagh; D Heneghan, C Hernon, B Cogger; K Molloy, C Gallagher; L Costello, M Thompson, M Mulryan; A Naughton, C Power, C Ó Curraoin.

Subs: M Barrett for Hernon (30), S McGlinchey for Gallagher (30), O McDonagh for Naughton (30), S McGrath for Costello (38), C Costello for Ó Curraoin (41), D Burke for Heneghan (41), J Folan for Kavanagh (45), J Nolan for Power (48), J O’Neill for Mulryan (53).

LEITRIM: K Gaffey; C Reynolds, K Clancy, S Harkin; E McNamara, J Rooney, D Feely; C Quinn, M Diffley; F McLoughlin, Riordan O’Rourke, T Prior; O McLoughlin, Ryan O’Rourke, Ruairí O’Rourke.

Subs: D Feeney for Quinn (17-20 blood), E McLoughlin for Reynolds (20), E Harkin for Ryan O’Rourke (30), J Kelly for Ruairí O’Rourke (30), B Guckian for O McLoughlin (39), Feeney for Quinn (39), P Prior for McNamara (44), B McBride for Feely (48), H Clancy for Riordan O’Rourke (50), T Plunkett for F McLoughlin (50), F McLoughlin for E McLoughlin (61-64 blood).

Referee:Thom Jimmy Donohue (Roscommon)