Galway u20’s see off Kingdom to seal All-Ireland final spot.

Eirgrid All-Ireland u20 Football semi-final

Saturday 17th October, Gaelic Grounds, Limerick 

Galway 1-15 Kerry 1-10

Watch the Full-Time Highlights of Galway v Kerry in the U20 All-Ireland Semi-Final here on GAANOW!
Full-Time Score:
Galway: 1-15
Kerry: 1-10 pic.twitter.com/qx0QIuJtpA

— The GAA (@officialgaa) October 17, 2020

Both squads had to contend with Covid related setbacks in the build up to the game. Earlier this week Galway manager Donal Ó Fatharta stood down the three players from newly crowned county champions Moycullen due to a local outbreak. 

On Friday Kerry manger John Sugrue had to make four late changes to his squad when there was a confirmed case in their squad with three additional players deemed close contacts. 

Kerry started the brighter of the two sides. Eddie Horan got them off to a good start with a brace of points. Galway responded with a point from Oisin Gormally followed by a goal from Cian Monaghan. The Oughterard man finished well after being set up by his club mate Matthew Tierney. However, Galway would go without another score from play for the next thirty minutes. 

The Kingdom responded to the Galway goal well, points from Eddie Horan again, Paul Walsh and Sean Keane brought the sides level before Ruaidhrí Ó’Beaglaoich found the net from a Deividas Uosis free kick. At their stage Kerry led by four points and the looked in control. Shortly before the break Ó’Beaglaoich almost added a second major. A fisted effort bounced across the goalmouth before clipping the far post. 

Pointed frees from Matthew Tierney and Matthew Cooley kept Galway in touch before the break. 

Half-time: Kerry 1-07 Galway 1-05

On the restart Tierney brought his side level with a pointed mark, followed shortly after by a free which restored parity. Another pointed Tierney free gave Galway their fifth point in a row and also put them back in front again. Dylan Geaney stopped the Galway momentum with a superb point from almost forty yards out. 

Tierney and Uosis the exchanged pointed frees as the sides were tied 1-09 apiece at the second water break. The final quarter was dominated by the young Tribesmen as they outscored the Kingdom by 0-6 to 0-1 between the restart and the final whistle. A superb score from Cian Monahan gave Galway a lead the wouldn’t relinquish. A Luke Brosnan black card saw Kerry finish out the game a man shy. Galway pressed home their numerical advantage with a brace from Matthew Cooley and a point from man of the match Cian Hernon. A long range free from Uosis cut the gap to three points again as we approached full-time. Two further points in additional time from substitute Nathan Grainger and a Paul Kelly free sealed a five point win for the westerners.

Full-time: Galway 1-15 Kerry 1-10

Scorers: Galway – Matthew Tierney 0-6 (5f,1m), Matthew Cooley 0-4 (3f), Cian Monahan 1-1, Cian Hernon 0-1, Oisin Gormally 0-1, Nathan Grainger 0-1, Patrick Kelly 0-1 (1f). Kerry – Eddie Horan 0-3, Ruaidhaí Ó Beaglaoich 1-0, Deividas Uosis 0-3 (2f, 1 45′), Paul Walsh 0-2, Daniel Geaney 0-1.