Moycullen 3-14 Tuam Stars 1-15

Moycullen advanced to the Claregalway Hotel Senior Football championship final after hard fought win over Tuam Stars. The old adage that goals win games held true as Moycullen found the net three times to secure their passage to their first Senior final in 43 years.

The teams were tied at a point apiece in the opening stages, when Tuam’s Johnny Trayers gifted Owen Gallagher with a goal chance from a mishit kickout. With shades of Mikey Sheehy v Paddy Cullen, Gallagher lofted the ball over Trayers into the Tuam net. 

The Stars responded with a point from Noel Henry, however, from the resulting kick-out Moycullen west down the field to ripple the Tuam net again. This time Dessie Conneely was at the end of a smart move that opened up the Stars defence.

During the first quarter Moycullen oozed confidence as Tom Clarke and Mark Lydon were dominant in the middle of the field and James McLoughlin and Gareth Bradshaw were full of attacking vigour from the wing-back positions. After an additional point from a Niall Walsh free Moycullen led by 2-02 v 0-2. But gradually Tuam found their way back into the game. Points from Ben O’Connell, Jamie Murphy and a Cormac McWalter free saw the gap begin to close. 

A Dessie Conneely point from a mark broke the sequence of Tuam scores and James McLoughlin and Conor Bohan added further scores. Ben O’Connell and Dessie Conneely traded scores before the break.

Half-time: Moycullen 2-09 Tuam Stars 0-08

Tommy Carton’s team talk at the interval had it’s desired effect as Tuam tore into their opponents in the third quarter. A basketball style full-court press on Moycullen goalkeeper Seamus Friel led to a turnover and a Tuam goal finished by Gavan Connell. Two Jamie Murphy scores followed and suddenly the gap was back  to within two points. 

Owen Gallagher broke the momentum of the Tuam scores, but Tuam answered back quickly with a fine point from Shane Curtin, which was quickly followed by another point, this time from Noel Henry. At the second water-break the scoreboard read Moycullen 2-10 Tuam Stars 1-12.

Conrmac McWalters level the game with a fine point on resumption. However, just when it looked like the more experienced Tuam side would push on to win, Paul Kelly got on the end of a fine move and burried it into Johnny Trayers net for a third time this afternoon. 

A Gavan Connell point gave Tuam some brief hope, but a Conor Bohan point as the clock ticked into three additional minutes gave Moycullen some breathing space. Two late Dessie Connelly frees added a gloss to the final scoreline.

Full-time: Moycullen 3-14 Tuam Stars 1-15 

Scorers: Moycullen: Dessie Conneely 1-05 (3f,2m), Owen Gallagher 1-2, Paul Kelly 1-1, Niall Walsh 0-3 (1m), Conor Bohan 0-2, James McLoughlin 0-1.

Tuam Stars: Cormac McWalter 0-06 (4f), Gavan Connell 1-01, Jamie Murphy 0-3 (1f), Noel Henry 0-2, Ben O’Connell 0-2, Shane Curtin 0-1.

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All-Ireland champions Corofin’s incredible undefeated streak in the Galway senior football championship now stretches back over 50 games. They put their record on the line against a Salthill-Knocknacarra side that blends youth with experience.

Last years finalists Tuam Stars are up against surprise package CLG Bhearna, while 2018 finalists Mountbellew-Moylough play Killannin. The final tie sees Moycullen face the Mervue based St.James GAA.

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Claregalway Hotel Senior Football Championship quarter-finals

Corofin v Salthill-Knocknacarra: Saturday 12th, Pearse Stadium @2:30pm

Corofin set down a marker in their opening group game with a 27 point hammering of last years Intermediate All-Ireland winners Oughterard. They followed that up with comfortable wins over Monevia-Abbey and An Cheathrú Rua. The depth of Kevin O’Brien’s squad was also well illustrated as former All-Stars Dathai Burke and Ian Burke both made cameos off the bench. Few county teams, nevermind club sides can boast such depth of quality in their squad.

Salthill were less convincing as they plotted their way out of their group. A win, defeat and draw in that order saw them claim second spot in their pool behind group winners Bearna. An apparent score-keeping error in their favour in their final group game against An Spidéal saw the game finish 0-16 v 1-13 rather than a one-point defeat. Salthill have a largely youthful team mixed with club stalwarts like Finian Hanley and Sean Armstrong. When they click, as they did in their opening-round win over St.Michaels (3-13 v 0-10), they can be formidable opponents. Robert Finnerty, son of their current manager and former Mayo star Anthony, is top scorer for the club with 1-14 so far. Tomo and Paddy Culhane have also chipped in on the scoring stakes.

The sides met at the semi-final stage last year. On that occasion, Corofin won an entertaining game by 1-16 to 2-09. However, on the evidence of what we have seen from both sides thus far in this campaign, Salthill have been too inconsistent and it would take an incredible performance for them to dethrone the holders.

Tuam Stars v CLG Bhearna: Saturday 12th, Pearse Stadium @5:30pm

The Stars came within seconds of clinching a surprise win in last years drawn county final. A superb display saw them two points up against the Corofin as the clock ticked into the red. Two late Gary Sice frees salvaged a draw for Kevin O’Brien’s side who went on to win the County final replay. They then powered on all the way to Croke Park to lift a third successive Andy Merrigan cup.

Tommy Carton’s side looked to have a hangover from that replay defeat as they slumped to a surprise two-point loss in their opening group game against Caherlistrane. Tuam bounced back with wins over Killannin (0-14 v 1-09) and Claregalway (1-18 v 1-12) to reach the knock-out stages again this year.

Bearna have proved to be the surprise package of this year’s championship in Galway. Starting the campaign as one of the favourites for the drop to Intermediate, they caused a big shock with an opening-round win over Salthill-Knocknacarra. Sean Conlon’s side then backed that performance up with further wins over St.Michael’s (0-13 v0-11) and An Spidéal (2-07 v 0-10) to top their group.

Free taker Donal Ó Cualáin leads the way in the scoring stakes with 2-14 (1 pen, 10f), while Tom Curran and Oisin Gormally have also chipped in.

Mountbellew-Moylough v Killannin: Sunday 12th, Pearse Stadium @2:30pm

Mountbellew-Moylough won their opening two rounds of group games to nail down a quarter-final spot. Annaghdown were defeated by 1-07 v 0-08 before Mícheál Breathnach’s were accounted for on a scoreline of 0-22 v 2-07. Val Daly’s side took their foot off the gas somewhat in their final group game as Moycullen cruised to a 4-14 v 1-09 win over the men in black and amber.

The retirement of club stalwart Joe Bergin, along with injury ruling John Daly out until the new year, was a blow to one of the few clubs capable of presenting a stiff challenge to Corofin. However, there is still plenty of quality in this squad. Barry McHugh has notched up 16 points so far, while Michael Daly, Patrick Kelly and Eoin Finnerty have also helped keep the scoreboard ticking over.

It’s twenty years since Killannin have reached a county final. Frank Noone’s charges have reached this stage thanks to wins in rounds 1 & 3. A narrow 0-11 v 0-10 win over Claregalway was followed up with a two-point defeat against last years finalists Tuam Stars (1-09 v 0-14). A 1-13 to 2-07 win over Carherlistrane in their final pool game clinched second spot in their pool behind Tuam. County stars Johnny Heaney and Patrick Sweeney are their main scoring threats to date.

Mountbellew overcame Killannin by four points when the sides met in last years’ championship. They look to have the stronger side to repeat that feat again this year.

Moycullen v St.James: Sunday 12th, Pearse Stadium @5:30pm

Moycullen (Maigh Cuilinn) will be looking to secure a semi-final spot for a second year running. They lost out to Tuam Stars at the penultimate stage last year and Don Connellan’s side will be looking to get another bite at reaching a county final for the first time since the 1970’s. Standing in their way are St.James’.

Moycullen have racked up big scores en-route to the quarter-final. They have found the net 11 times in their three matches. Mícheal Breathnach’s (3-12 v 1-06), Annaghdown (4-09 v 2-14) and Mountbellew-Moylough (4-14 v 1-09) were all defeated on their way to top of group 2. Dessie Conneely has racked up an impressive 3-16 and Conor Bohan has notched 4-03.

One crucial battle could be Johnny Duane against Dessie Conneely as St. James look to nullify Moycullen main attacking threat. This may somewhat stifle Duane’s own attacking instincts that have see him chip in with 1-01 from wing-back.

St. James, captained by Eoin Concannon, have shown great form so far this campaign. Last year saw them in a battle to stave off relegation. This year wins over Milltown (3-20 v 2-16) and Oughterard (3-16 v 1-14) were enough to clinch a quarter-final spot after an opening round defeat to Cararoe (0-15 v 1-10).

County star Paul Conroy has led the way with 20 points (14f), while Concannon (1-09) and Aaron Connolly 2-04 have also contributed handsomely.

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