Galway 2-09 Leitrim 0-06
Galway held off a good Leitrim rally in the second-half to advance to the Connacht U-20 final with a hard-earned win at Tuam Stadium.
It's Galway’s first win in the grade since they defeated Dublin to win the 2020 All-Ireland final.
The Tribesmen scored 2-02 without reply in the final quarter for a somewhat flattering triumph against a spirited Leitrim side who now bow out as the Connacht championship is run off on a knockout basis.
Galway, having had the breeze behind them, led by 0-06 to 0-02 at the break despite shooting seven wides to Leitrim’s one as both teams were hampered by the wet conditions at Tuam Stadium.
Leitrim were dealt a double blow with captain Michael McKiernan unable to start through illness while senior player Barry McNulty was withdrawn to ensure he is available for duty in Gaelic Park against New York on Saturday.
The Galway attack looked sharper from the outset with Jake Slattery shooting three excellent points in the opening half off both feet.
Midfielder Sam O’Neill also shot a brace of points using both feet with full-forward Seán Birmingham getting them off the mark inside a minute.
Paul Moran opened Leitrim’s account with a free from 30 metres after 14 minutes and Ben Guckian, son of manager Benny, kicked an excellent point to leave them four adrift at the interval.
Jamie McGreal and Moran halved the deficit within eight minutes of the restart and while Cillian Ó Curraoin responded for Galway, Radek Oberwan and Moran again found the range to leave Leitrim trailing by just 0-7 to 0-6 going into the final quarter.
But after Leitrim failed to equalise from a couple of good chances, Galway hit back and two frees from Birmingham pushed them three in front.
Interval sub Michael Moughan soloed in from the left and drilled the ball low to the net to push them ahead by double scores - at 1-09 to 0-06 - five minutes from time and there was no way back for Leitrim after that, with Matthew Thompson wrapping it up deep into stoppage time with Galway’s second goal.
Galway: James Egan; Luc O'Connor, Éanna Donohue, Colm MacDonncha; Bernard Coen, Brian Cogger, Jack Folan; Patrick Egan, Sam O’Neill (0-02); Matthew Thompson (1-00), Jake Slattery (0-03), Fergal Ó Sé; Charlie Power, Seán Birmingham (0-03, 0-02f), Cillian Ó Curraoin (0-01f).
Subs: Michael Moughan (1-00) for Coen (half-time), Maidhc Mac Gearailt for Power (48), Jack Lonergan for Folan (55), Jack McCabe for Ó Curraoin (60), Daithi Kilcommins for Ó Sé (60).
Leitrim: Conor Flood; Jack Foley, Brian Donohoe; Ryan Cunningham; Jamie McGreal (0-01), Daniel McLoughlin, Mark Lenehan; Daniel Bosquette, Gavin Reynolds; Emmet Regan, Ben Guckian (0-01), Jack Casey; Kyle McCrann Paul Moran (0-03, 0-02f), Radek Oberwan (0-01).
Subs: Jake Tobin for McLoughlin (28), Michael McKiernan for Regan (52), Tommy Taylor for Bosquette (58).
Referee: John Gilmartin (Sligo).
Elsewhere, Dublin made it three wins from three in the Leinster U20 football championship as they saw off Offaly at Glenisk O'Connor Park by 1-15 to 1-09.
The Dubs had already managed four of the first five scores before Greg McEneaney got the first goal of the game to push the visitors six clear inside a quarter of an hour.
The gap was back to two at the break as John Furlong goalled for the Faithful, and they would surge into the lead by the 40-minute mark when Harry Plunkett converted a free.
Dublin finished strongly though, and efforts from Luke Breathnach, Darragh Dempsey and Ross Keogh saw them home to top Group 2, and book their place in the semi-finals.
