Electric Ireland Connacht Minor Football Semi-Final

GALWAY 1-13 ROSCOMMON 1-6

By John Fallon at Pearse Stadium

Galway will meet Sligo in the Connacht MFC final at Pearse Stadium on Sunday week after they saw off a spirited Roscommon challenge at the Salthill venue.

The Tribesmen are now poised for a tilt at a three in a row against a Sligo side bidding for their first crown since 1968 and only their third in history.

Matthias Barrett got Galway off the mark after eight minutes as they struggled to make their early dominance count on the scoreboard.

But Roscommon hit back and went in front for the first time after 17 minutes when Ronan Dowd pointed after a free from Brian Derwin had tied the match.

The Tribesmen responded with good scores from Darragh Silke and Brian Harlowe to lead by 0-3 to 0-2 eight minutes from the break.

Roscommon then struck for a fine goal when Cathal Heneghan worked his way in from the left and set up Derwin, who dispatched the ball to the net with a powerful shot.

However, Galway did not panic and drew level with points from wing-back Liam Boyle and another from Harlowe to leave it Galway 0-5 to Roscommon’s 1-2 at the break.

The champions got on top after the restart and took the lead when Evan Murphy pointed a free from 40 metres.

The wing-back Boyle got his second point after 43 minutes after a goal effort from Rory Cunningham came back off the left post.

Roscommon responded with a pointed free from Derwin to leave the minimum between them going into the final quarter.

He then tied the match and after Padraic Costello pointed a free for Galway, Roscommon hit the front ten minutes from time when Ronan Dowd and Sean Henry scored to make it 1-6 to 0-7.

But Galway took over from there and held Roscommon scoreless, as they shot four points in succession before sub Conor Newell sealed the win with a late goal.

Meanwhile, Sligo needed a strong closing seven minutes to edge past Leitrim after a second-half goal rush in Markevicz Park in the other semi-final.

Leitrim led by 1-3 to 0-3 at the interval following Jordan Reynolds’ goal three minutes from the interval, but Sligo looked in control when Red Óg Murphy replied for the home side straight after the restart.

But in a real tit-for-tat battle Oisin McLoughlin goaled for Leitrim, Sligo replied a minute later through Evan Lavin, but Ryan Walsh’s goal for Sligo in the 46th minute put them three points up.

McLoughlin levelled matters again a minute later with his second goal for Leitrim, but led by Conal Ryan Sligo finished well to reach the decider.

Scorers for Galway: C Newell 1-0, L Boyle 0-3, B Harloew 0-2,P Costello 0-2 (1f), E Murphy 0-1 (f), D Silke 0-1, C Campbell 0-1, M Barrett 0-1, D Silke 0-1, E McFadeen 0-1

Scorers for Roscommon: B Derwin 1-3 (0-2f), R Dowd 0-2, S Henry 0-1

Galway: Oran Burke; Eoin McFadden, Sean Mulkerrin (c), Sean Fitzgerald; Jack Glynn, Gavin Burke, Liam Boyle; Matthias Barrett, Martin Kerrigan; Brian Harlowe, Evan Murphy, Ciaran Potter; Rory Cunningham, Padraic Costello, Darragh Silke. Subs: Conor Campbell for Potter (41), Conor Newell for Cunningham (49), Matthew Tierney for Silke (59), Conor Walsh for Murphy (62).

Roscommon: Aaron Brady; Pauric Halpin, Evan Flynn, Gerry Galvin; Donnacha Gately, Dylan Ruane, Paul McManus; Cian Corcoran, Conall Kennelly; Oisin Lennon, Cathal Heneghan, Sean Henry; Ronan Dowd, Brian Derwin, Callum Fahey (c). Subs: Paul Carey for Fahey (41), Sean Hanley for Lennon (53), John Martin for Ruane (56), Michael Conroy for Halpin (58 black card), Andrew Lyons for Carey (60)

Referee: Eamonn O’Grady (Leitrim).