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Matthew Tierney terrific as Galway overcome Sligo to retain Connacht SFC crown

Updated / Sunday, 7 May 2023 20:20

Matthew Tierney gave one of the finest exhibitions of scoring in a Connacht final as holders Galway powered to an expected victory against a determined but outclassed Sligo at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar.

Wing-forward Tierney bagged a superb 2-07, including two well-taken first-half goals, as Padraic Joyce's Galway won by 14 points, 2-20 to 0-12.

Both teams progress to the All-Ireland series, with Galway, obviously, amongst the favourites for the Sam Maguire Cup.

The curtain-raiser at the Castlebar venue saw Mayo defeat Galway in the TG4 Connacht LGFA Senior Championship. Before the main event the Galway team that won senior provincial and All-Ireland honours in 1998 were honoured.

Galway were overwhelming favourites to secure a 49th Nestor Cup especially given their recent pedigree – runners-up in last year's All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and Allianz Football League Division One finalists earlier this year.

Sligo, who lost by 13 points to Galway when the counties last met in the championship in 2019, could at least take some inspiration from 2007 when, as underdogs, they overcame Galway in the provincial decider.

Sligo also had the boost from the previous day when their Under-20s qualified for the county’s first-ever All-Ireland final in this age group with an impressive defeat of Kerry.

Wind-assisted for the opening period, Sligo started with purpose and were 0-03 to 0-01 up by the fifth minute.

Pat Spillane lofted a fine score after 23 seconds, Sean Carrabine converted a free and Darragh Cummins – who was in for full-forward Patrick O’Connor but used as an additional defender – pointed from distance.

Galway’s only response during Sligo’s early salvo was a fine point from Dylan McHugh, who finished a move that he started.

Before Sligo fans could consider the Miracle of Castlebar might be about to begin, Galway settled into the game with a powerful statement score after 10 minutes – Matthew Tierney found the top corner with a goal finish from Damien Comer’s pass.

Galway, 1-02 to 0-03, took charge as they looked to unlock the packed Sligo defence with patient, probing possession.

Galway’s runners into space were causing problems but Sligo were turning the ball over the also missing chances – they kicked four wides when backed by the breeze.

The Tribesmen, wearing a changed strip of white with maroon trim, bagged a second goal after 23 minutes to confirm the one-sided nature of this contest.

Matthew Tierney goaled again - a less spectacular finish from close-range – after Damien Comer set him up following a Sligo turnover.

Galway had moved nine points clear by the 33rd minute, 2-07 to 0-04, but had Ian Burke black carded in first-half stoppage time.

Tierney forces home his second goal

Sligo ended the first period with their fifth point – Darragh Cummins on target again – but they faced an uphill struggle in the second-half with the gap at eight points, 2-07 to 0-05.

Galway, backed by the strong breeze for the second-half, pointed within 10 seconds of the restart when Matthew Tierney pointed.

Sligo replied almost immediately with a pointed free from Niall Murphy and then Sean Carrabine pointed with aplomb – but this was a rare highlight for this year’s Allianz Football League Division Four champions, who came into this game on a nine-game winning streak.

Galway stepped on the gas when they needed to and four points without reply, including a classy outside of the foot finish from Peter Cooke, saw them extend their lead to 11 points, 2-12 to 0-07, by the 49th minute.

Darragh Cummins contributed his third point of proceedings for Sligo and then Sean Carrabine lofted a fine effort from play – his fourth score – but Galway were too strong and too accurate.

Team captain Sean Kelly roamed upfield to add a point, with substitutes Cathal Sweeney and Tomo Culhane also getting on scoresheet.

Galway: Connor Gleeson, John McGrath, Sean Kelly (0-01), Jack Glynn, Dylan McHugh (0-01), John Daly, Cillian McDaid (0-01), Robert Finnerty, John Maher, Matthew Tierney (2-07, 1f, 1 '45’), Johnny Heaney (0-02), Peter Cooke (0-01), Ian Burke (0-02), Damien Comer, Shane Walsh (0-02, 2f)

Subs used: Cathal Sweeney (0-02) for Shane Walsh, 41; Dessie Conneely for Robert Finnerty, 46; Cian Hernon for Cillian McDaid, 49; Tomo Culhane (0-01) for Damien Comer, 60; Paul Kelly for John Maher, 62

Sligo: Daniel Lyons, Evan Lyons, Eddie McGuinness, Nathan Mullen, Brian Cox, Paul McNamara, Luke Towey, Cian Lally, Paul Kilcoyne (0-01), Keelan Cawley, Sean Carrabine (0-04, 2f), Finnian Cawley, Pat Spillane (0-01), Darragh Cummins (0-03), Niall Murphy (0-03, 1 '45’, 1f)

Subs used: Mikey Gordon for Keelan Cawley, 42; Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch for Cian Lally, 49; Patrick O’Connor for Pat Spillane, 49; Mark Walsh for Darragh Cummins, 53; Alan Reilly for Finnian Cawley, 65

Referee: Brendan Cawley

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