Galway did enough to suggest they could be serious contenders for the All-Ireland senior football championship title this year, when they deservedly saw off the challenge of a mediocre Roscommon side by a four-point margin at the refurbished Pearse Park in Salthill. In a scrappy affair, somewhat spoiled by the difficult windy conditions on the west coast, the Tribesmen's extra class and composure proved telling as John O'Mahony's men won their Connacht opener on a 0-12 to 0-08 scoreline.
Playing with the advantage of a strong breeze in the first half, Galway quickly stamped their authority on proceedings, thanks to some excellent free-taking by Padraic Joyce and rising young star Michael Meehan. With Roscommon struggling to find their rhythm, goalkeeper Shane Curran made an important save from a dipping Derek Savage point attempt. Roscommon's defence slowly began to stifle some Galway attacks and Stephen Lohan and Jonathan Dunning scored from play to suggest they might be beginning to assert themselves properly. However, more clinical Joyce frees, aswell as some exquisite scores from Meehan and Kevin Walsh from play, saw Galway lead 0-09 to 0-03 at half-time.
Frankie Dolan sent over the first point of the second half to give the amber and blue-clad fans renewed hope of a fight-back. But Galway continued to play the more flowing football, despite the unsuitable conditions. Michael Donnellan emerged as a temporary replacement for blood-injury victim Ciaran Fitzgerald, signalling his comeback from injury with some strong, purposeful runs into the centre of the Roscommon half-back line. Joe Bergin became more and more prominent as the half wore on and it took some timely intervention from Gerry Cox to deny him a goal in the 60th minute.
However, despite the undoubted gulf in class, Roscommon stayed in touch, with Dunning sending one over the bar in the 66th minute to make it 0-11 to 0-07. Paul Clancy quickly replied with a point for Galway, before Dunning again reduced the arrears to four points. Matthew Clancy should have netted an easy goal chance in stoppage time for Galway, however, his glaring miss did not affect the outcome as some late Roscommon forays into the Galway half proved fruitless.
Filed by James Boylan
