Galway escape Garda's clutches in second half

A powerful second-half performance, inspired by midfielder Shane Donoghue, guided NUIG to success at Dangan yesterday.

NUIG gave their opponents a head start, a Jason Lawlor point and a Brian Begley goal putting Garda College on their way. They continued to dominate and Begley scored another goal on 22 minutes. NUIG scored their first goal five minutes later, from right corner forward Niall Kelly, but Garda College lead 2-5 to 1-6 at the break. The hosts started well after the resumption and scored 1-1 within two minutes, the goal coming from captain Brian McMahon. Substitute Shane Mullane scored NUIG's third goal after 38 minutes and further points from Donoghue, McMahon and David Tierney secured the win.

NUIG: S Hawes; S Forde, E McDonagh, Brian McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus); H Whiriskey, D McMahon, B Dunne; S Donoghue 0-8 (seven frees), D Tierney 0-1; T Griffin, J Dooley, G McGlacken; N Kelly 1-2, P McKeogh 0-2, Brian McMahon (Kilmaley, capt) 1-1. Subs: R Cooney for J Dooley (20 mins), S Mullane (1-0) for G McGlacken (38 mins), D Madden for P McKeogh (48 mins), F Cullinane for T Griffin (62 mins).

GARDA COLLEGE: M Murphy; B Murphy, A Fitzgerald, A Murphy; M Carley, K Mulryan, O Cotter; S Kennedy 0-1, D Kennedy; J Lawlor (capt) 0-1, B Cunningham 0-1, O Behan 0-2, frees; R Lambert, B Begley 2-1, E Brennan 0-1. Subs: D Owens for R Lambert (20 mins), B Monaghan for J Lawlor (36 mins), L O'Connor for B Cunningham (55 mins), D Barron for S Kennedy (56 mins).

Referee: S McMahon (Clare).