Gaelic Games

Connaht MFC: Holders Galway into final after Roscommon win

Defending champions will face Sligo after they proved too strong for Leitrim

Evan Murphy scord a point as Galway beat Roscommon to reach the Connacht MFC. Photograph: Donall Farmer/Inpho

Wed Jun 28 2017 - 21:49

Galway 1-13 Roscommon 1-6

Holders Galway advanced to the Connacht MFC final after seeing off a determined Roscommon side at Pearse Stadium in Salthill.

A goal from Roscommon full-forward Brian Derwin saw the sides level at 0-5 to 1-2 at the interval.

Galway failed to make early dominance count in the slippery conditions.

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Galway edged in front early in the second-half with wing-back Liam Boyle, who finished with 0-3, finding the target with Evan Murphy also shooting a point.

But Roscommon never gave up and hit the front ten minutes from time when Ronan Dowd and Séa Henry landed points to create the prospect of a shock result.

Galway, however, never panicked and picked off four points in succession before substitute Conor Newell sealed a provincial final meeting with Sligo on Sunday week with a late goal, with Roscommon failing to score in the closing ten minutes of the contest.

Galway: O Burke; E McFadden (0-1), S Mulkerrin (c), S Fitzgerald; J Glynn, G Burke, L Boyle (0-3); M Barrett (0-1), M Kerrigan; B Harlowe (0-2), E Murphy (0-1, 0-1f), C Potter; R Cunningham, P Costello (0-2, 0-1f), D Silke (0-2). Subs: C Campbell (0-1) for Potter (41), C Newell (1-0) for Cunningham (49), M Tierney for Silke (59), C Walsh for Murphy (62).

Roscommon: A Brady; P Halpin, E Flynn, G Galvin; D Gately, D Ruane, P McManus; C Corcoran, C Kennelly; O Lennon, C Heneghan, S Henry (0-1); R Dowd (0-2), B Derwin (1-3, 0-2f), C Fahey (c). Subs: P Carey for Fahey (41), S Hanley for Lennon (53), J Martin for Ruane (56), M Conroy for Halpin (58 black card), A Lyons (Castlerea) for Carey (60).

Referee: Eamonn O'Grady (Leitrim).

Sligo 3-12 Leitrim 3-7

Sligo hit three second half goals to book their place in this year’s Connacht minor final in a wet Markievicz Park.

Red Og Murphy, Evan Lavin and Ryan Walsh all found the net as the Yeats men finished strongly.

Leitrim started brightly, with Caleb Duffy impressing, and they managed a fortunate goal on 20 minutes, when a Jordan Reynolds effort was caught behind his line by Sligo goalkeeper Alan Davey and a goal was awarded to leave Leitrim 1-4 to 0-5 ahead at the break.

Red Og Murphy’s early second half goal swung the tie back in their favour, before Leitrim’s Oisin McLoughlin and Sligo’s Evan Lavin netted within a minute of each other.

Substitute Ryan Walsh added a third Sligo goal, but McLoughlin’s second three-pointer left the sides all-square with ten minutes left.

But man of the match Conall Ryan, Lavin, Walsh and Luke Towey all clipped over late points, as Sligo pulled clear.

Sligo: A Davey; E Lyons, J Ellis, J Weir; B Cox, E Lavin (1-2), O Conlon; N Colsh, B Gorman (0-1); R Anderson (0-1), L Towey (0-1), C O'Dowd; C Ryan (0-4), R Óg Murphy (1-2, 2f), K McKenna. Subs: M Cahill for Og Murphy (black card 40), R Walsh (1-1) for O'Dowd (41), J Stephenson for Anderson (50), J McMunn for Colsh (58), B Tuohy for Lavin (60).

Leitrim: E Gallagher; C Dwyer, S Harkin, E Harkin (0-1); C Cullen, S Chandler, M Diffley; A Hoare (0-1), R Sheridan; O McLoughlin (2-1, 1f), J Clancy, R O'Rourke (0-1); D Devanney, C Duffy (0-3), J Reynolds (1-0). Subs: C Kiernan for Devanney (30), M Keegan for Cullen (ht), P Kelly for Reynolds (52), P Prior for Diffley (54), C Kenny for Keegan (60).

Referee: L Devanney (Mayo).

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