AIB Connacht Club SFC: Maigh Cuilinn too good for Leitrim Gaels

Connacht Senior Club Football Championship Semi-Final

Maigh Cuilinn 4-13 (4-2-9) Leitrim Gaels 1-9 (1-0-9)

By Billy Coss at Pearse Stadium

MAIGH CUILINN'S record of having never lost in provincial competition remains intact after the Galway title holders overcame a fast start from Leitrim Gaels to run out convincing winners of this afternoon's Connacht Senior Club Football Championship semi-final in Salthill.

Late first half goals from top scorer Dessie Conneely and Fiachra McDonagh were followed by a Fionn McDonagh brace early in the second as Maigh Cuilinn were never in anything other than total control once they settled.

Leitrim Gaels made a blistering opening to their first ever fixture in Connacht with Garvan Jones cracking home a quite brilliant fourth minute goal in between points from David Regan and Stephen Goldrick.

Thereafter, it was all Maigh Cuilinn who reeled off 2-9 without reply from the sixth minute up to half-time. Goals arrived in the 21st and 22nd minute from Conneely and Fiachra McDonagh, while Johnny Moloney, Fionn McDonagh, Niall Walsh and Seán O'Connor also got on the scoresheet with points.

Maigh Cuilinn, who were without Galway star Peter Cooke, little very left behind and shot just two wides on their way to a commanding interval lead of ten points. In a measure of the pressure that Leitrim Gaels were under, corner-back Shane Finn received a black card shortly before the break.

Liam Moreton ended a 27-minute scoring drought for Leitrim Gaels after the restart but quickfire goals from Fionn McDonagh in the 35th and 36th minute pushed Maigh Cuilinn even further clear.

The Leitrim champions refused to accept their fate and saw Jamie Rynn and Garvan Jones goal chances superbly saved by Maigh 'keeper Pierce Greally, while David Wynne also smothered a close-range David Regan effort.

Fresh from shooting 1-10 against Sligo's Shamrock Gaels a week earlier, Conneely would finish the day with 1-7 to his name with a pair of two-pointers, one from a free, rounding out their tally.

Maigh Cuilinn manager Cathal Clancy also had the luxury of withdrawing Galway captain Seán Kelly prior to the three-quarter mark as the game meandered to an inevitable conclusion.

To their credit, Leitrim Gaels would kick six of the game's closing seven scores through Garvan Jones (four, three frees), captain Aidan Flynn and Shaun Chandler. And while Mal Guckian’s side fell to a disappointing exit, they can reflect on a memorable season that delivered a breakthough county senior title.

Connacht winners at Senior (2022) and Intermediate (2015) level, Maigh Cuilinn will attempt to add a third provincial crown in their history when they face St. Brigid's from Roscommon in a fortnight's time.

Scorers for Maigh Cuilinn: Dessie Conneely 1-7 (1tp, 1tpf, 1f); Fionn McDonagh 2-3 (2f); Fiachra McDonagh 1-0; Seán O'Connor, Johnny Moloney and Niall Walsh 0-1 each.

Scorers for Leitrim Gaels: Garvan Jones 1-4 (3f); David Regan, Aidan Flynn, Stephen Goldrick, Liam Moreton and Shaun Chandler 0-1 each.

MAIGH CUILINN: Pierce Greally; Aidan Claffey, Mike Moughan, Eoghan Kelly; Seán O'Connor, Seán Kelly, David Wynne (captain); Tom Clarke, Ger Davoren; Johnny Moloney, Niall Walsh, Paul Kelly; Fionn McDonagh, Fiachra McDonagh, Dessie Conneely. Subs: Cillian Gallagher for Walsh temporary (41-FT), Conor Corcoran for Seán Kelly (43), Eoin McGuire for Claffey (46), Mark Hynes for Eoghan Kelly (49), Charlie Cox for Fionn McDonagh (50), Mark Bradley for Moloney (57).

LEITRIM GAELS: Brian Cull; Liam Chandler, Frank Cullen, Shane Finn; Shaun Chandler, Aidan Flynn (captain), Jamie Rynn; Ryan Jones, Conall Jones; Jack Flynn, Garvan Jones, Stephen Goldrick; David Regan, Liam Moreton, Aaron Farrell. Subs: Eunan Treacy for Farrell (39), Conor Guckian for Moreton (39), Michael Connolly for Rynn (44), Ben Finn for Cullen (52), James Flynn for Goldrick (56).

REFEREE: Jerome Henry (Mayo).