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Galway comfortable in defeating Roscommon in Salthill

Updated / Sunday, 20 Apr 2025 22:46

Galway remain on course for a four-in-a-row in Connacht for the first time in almost six decades after setting up a provincial final date against Mayo when they saw off Roscommon with ease in Salthill.

Midfielders Paul Conroy and John Maher dominated as Pádraic Joyce's men reached their tenth Connacht final in a row, with Rob Finnerty shooting 0-08, all but two of them from play in front of a crowd of 10,573.

Galway, backed by the slight breeze, led by 1-12 to 0-07 at the break with Footballer of the Year Conroy leading the way with a couple of two-pointers and another point from play, with his midfield partner Maher also fisting a point.

There was little between them in the opening quarter with Ruaidhri Fallon and Diarmuid Murtagh pointing for Roscommon to draw them level at 0-04 apiece after 18 minutes.

But then Galway, and in particular Matthew Tierney, took over. A fisted effort from Galway captain Sean Kelly came back off a post and Tierney pounced from close range to drill the ball low into the bottom right corner.

The Oughterard clubman then pointed a mark before landing a two-pointer from the right to push the Tribesmen 1-07 to 0-04 in front after 21 minutes.

Ben O'Carroll responded for Roscommon before Conroy hit the first of his two-pointers. Diarmuid Murtagh and Maher exchanged points and the hard-working O’Carroll got his second, but Galway finished strongly when Conroy landed another two-pointer to lead by eight at the break.

Finnerty, who had got a couple of early points for Galway, extended their lead when he landed two more after the restart, although they were cancelled by a two-pointer from Ciaráin Murtagh before his younger brother Diarmuid also hit a two-pointer.

Ciaráin Murtagh followed with an effort from play to cut the gap to 1-15 to 0-12 after 44 minutes before a sustained period of Galway possession resulted in points from Maher and Cillian McDaid.

Donie Smith hit a two-pointer for Roscommon after coming on and O’Carroll, their best player, got his third point to reduce the margin to 1-18 to 0-15 with 17 minutes left, but Finnerty responded for Galway with a free and one from play to push the lead out to eight.

Galway brought on Damien Comer as skipper Kelly limped off after a tackle and they continued to dominate with Finnerty taking his haul to 0-08 as the Tribesmen advanced to the Connacht final against Mayo in Castlebar in two weeks as they bid to complete their first provincial four-in-a-row since 1966, a year when they also won their third All-Ireland title on the spin.

Galway: Connor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Sean Fitzgerald, Jack Glynn; Sean Kelly, Sean Mulkerrin, Liam Silke (0-01), Dylan McHugh (0-02); Paul Conroy (0-05, 2tp), John Maher (0-02); Matthew Tierney (1-03, 1tp, 0-01m), Cillian McDaid (0-03), Sean Kelly; Matthew Thompson, Rob Finnerty (0-08, 0-02f), Céin D’Arcy.

Subs: Damien Comer for Kelly (57), Daniel O’Flaherty for McDaid (59), Cathal Sweeney for McHugh (63), Tomo Culhane for Finnerty (67), Sam O’Neill for Thompson (67).

Roscommon: Conor Carroll; Pearse Frost, Brian Stack, Niall Higgins; Ruaidhri Fallon (0-01m), David Murray, Colm Neary (0-01); Eddie Nolan, Shane Cunnane; Ultan Harney, Cian McKeon, Enda Smith; Diarmuid Murtagh (0-05, 1tp, 0-02f), Ben O’Carroll (0-03), Ciaráin Murtagh (0-04, 1tp, 0-01f).

Subs: Shane Killoran (0-01) for McKeon (10-15), Keith Doyle for Higgins, half-time, Daire Cregg for Harney, half-time; Donie Smith (0-02, 1tp) for McKeon (43), Conor Cox for E Smith (50), Killoran for Nolan (57), Senan Lambe (0-01) for Neary (62).

Referee: Sean Hurson (Tyrone).

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