Galway 1-14 Sligo 0-13
Galway retained their Connacht football title today with a hard-fought four point victory over a dogged Mayo side at Pearse Stadium.
John O'Mahony's men only played in fits and bursts but did enough on the day to keep Mayo, who undoubtedly still have a hand in the championship via the qualifying series, at bay.
Playing into a stiff breeze, Mayo excelled themselves in the opening stages and having pulled level on five points apiece appeared the more fluent team. But a poor penalty miss from forward Stephen Carolan after 27 minutes took the wind from their sails and served as the boost Galway needed to kick start their game.
Mayo forward Conor Mortimer, scorer of six points, was fouled in flight as he attempted to field a ball. Referee Michael Monahan immediately signaled for the spot kick but Carolan's lethargic effort went high and wide of Brian Donoghue's left hand upright.
Galway found their stride soon after and edged ahead as the game ticked into first half injury time. Michael Donnellan - brought on midway through the half for the ineffective Ja Fallon - ignited a number of attacks that saw Galway build a two point lead moments before cementing that advantage with a well taken goal.
Mayo's Aidan Higgins failed to defend a dropping cross field ball and it zipped past him on the greasy turf. Matthew Clancy collected and sprinted, unaccompanied, in on Fintan Ruddy's goal. The Galway sharpshooter coolly slotted the ball under the advancing 'keeper and the holders took to the break on a scoreline of 1-7 to 0-5.
Joe Bergin settled Galway after the restart with a snappy brace but O'Mahony's men could never quite muster the scores to pull away from their opponents. Mayo, to their credit, kept plugging away and Mortimer, James Gill and substitute Maurice Sheridan all pointed to reduce the deficit to a single point with 10 minutes remaning.
However, Galway, inspired by Sean Og de Paor's ability to break down and win ball in the half back line and Joe Bergin's inspiring runs from the middle of the park, cobbled together scores from Michael Meehan and goal scorer Clancy. Meehan, himself, had a clear goal opportunity saved by Mayo 'keeper Fintan Ruddy on 62 minutes.