Connacht Junior Football final

SLIGO.......0-9
GALWAY..............0-8

The fairytale year continues unabated for Sligo. Division 3 league, success over Mayo and now a junior Connacht title with a hard earned success over Galway in Ballyhaunis on Wednesday evening before a sizable attendance of loyal supporters from both counties.

The setting might have been slightly low key, the competition a minor sideshow on the GAA calendar and most of the players on view well below the current inter county radar. Yet for 60 plus minutes in Ballyhaunis on Wednesday evening this was the centre of championship action in Connacht with Connacht medals and memories to recollect in winter months on off for the winners. 

All the talk amongst the cloth cap gentlemen from a generation past and the their successors on the terraces was about the senior clash that has captured the imagination for one reason, Kevin Walsh and the expectation that Galway will not have it all their own way. Sligo and Galway may be preparing to do battle in the Connacht Senior Championship semi-final in a few weeks time but at 7.25 discussion turned to the event in hand as the two sides limbered up for the national anthem.

The attendance was affected admittedly by the inclement weather that bedevilled the west of the country on the day. However boosted nonetheless by the new found optimism that has covered Yeats country following successive division 4 and 3 league wins and most notably the devastating winning display against Mayo the weekend previous.

Galway advanced to the final after a narrow one point victory over Mayo and a comprehensive nine point success over a gallant Roscommon in the semi-final, where they triumphed by 1-12 to 0-6. Sligo, for their part have had two games in the championship. In round one they overcame near neighbours Leitrim and grew in confidence with a eye catching (2-20) to (1-9) win against Fermanagh with a number of impressive point scoring displays. Due to the playing of the Mayo/Sligo SFC game last weekend Sligo promoted Stephen Gilmartin and Keelan Cawley from Junior to senior ranks.

It was indeed a proud day for the followers of Sligo club Naomh Eoin who had half a dozen starters in the Sligo side. Former Galway hurler Andy Coen from Gort was lining out for the Galway side at wing back as Galway fielded what appeared to be a solid side on paper and would in the bookies eyes start as favourites to lift the crown.

This theory appeared well grounded as the Maroon and white clad warriors raced into an early three point lead and it looked as if they could manage a goal that this game would be a procession. Eoin Foyle hi the opening brace from a free and play whilst Barry Donnellan kicked a beauty from play. Jason Farrell proved the Sligo hero with three point blank saves from Colman Hands, Eoin Foyle and Michael Murphy as the loose grass on the field was proving difficult for both sides. David Maye finally got Sligo on the scoresheet after ten minutes with Benny McDonagh scoring a wonderful solo score a minute later to leave the minimum between the sides. The game was level when David Maye once again from a free had Sligo fans cheering as the North East side were coming more into the game. On six different occasions the Galway forward kicked the ball into Jason Farrell's hands and were also giving the ball away at midfield. Sligo centre forward Padraig McGoldrick and Brendan Og Callaran exchanged scores before O Callarain sent Galway into the lead just on the half time whistle. 

Sligo however were far from despondent as they were only a point in arrears (0-5) to (0-4) and aided by the breeze starting the new half. The Galway men started the game as they wanted to with the first two scores from Michael Murphy and Barry Donnellan to surge three clear. Sligo appeared under the cosh for the opening ten minutes of the new half but eventually Sligo led by Padraig McGoldrick seized the game and the Sligo centre forward kicked three points in ten minutes to level the game (0-7) apiece and Galway emptied their bench with little effect bar upsetting their pattern. Benny McDonagh pointed the rebound off the post from Padraig McGoldrick's huge effort from 50 yards. Cathal Coleman who was introduced equalised in the 56th minute but the final say went to man of the match McGoldrick who wrote a chapter in the Sligo annals with the winning point as the game ended normal time.

A huge out pouring of delight greeted Michael Daly's final whistle as Sligo supporters who had felt realistically that their chances were limited starting the game took the chances that fell their way and became Connacht Junior champions.

Best for Sligo were the excellent Jason Farrell in goal, Padraig McGoldrick with five points, Barry Cyran, Francis Quinn, Benny McDonagh, Kevin Gallagher, David Maye until injured, James Murphy and Donal McLynn. Galway who collapsed for the bulk of the second half had good displays from Paul Gleeson, Jamie Burke, Andy Coen, Keith Kelly, Eoin Foyle and Brendan O Callarain early on.

SLIGO: Jason Farrell, Adrian McIntyre, Barry Cyran, David Rooney, Donal McLynn, Francis Quinn, Kevin Gallagher, James Murphy, Paul McTiernan , Shane Stenson, Padraig McGoldrick (0-5), Benny McDonagh (0-2), Cian McNamara, Kieran Finan David Maye (0-2). Subs: Joe Quinn for McNamara

GALWAY: Padraig Lally (An Spiddeal), Eddie O Sullivan (Oughterard), Paul Gleeson (Dunmore McHales), Keith Kelly(Ballinasloe), Andy Coen (St Colmans), Jamie Burke (St James), Colman Hands (Oranmore Maree), Ronan Flynn (Claregalway), Michael Aspell (Renvyle), Barry Donnellan (St Kerrils)(0-1), David Hogan (Mountbellow Moylough), Michael Murphy (Kilconly)(0-1), Brendan Og O Colleran (An Spiddeal) (0-2), Padraic Moran (An Spiddeal), Eoghan Foyle (Aran Islands)(0-2). Cathal Coleman (0-1) for Moran, James Fair for Murphy, Martin Joyce for Aspell, John Paul Steede for O Callarain.

REFEREE: Michael Daly (Mayo).

After the game the President of Connacht council presented the Connacht Junior cup to Sligo captain Francis Quinn as the bonfires were being lit all over Yeats county and thoughts drifted to June 27th in Pearse Stadium.