Shamrock Gaels (Sligo) 1-09 Maigh Cuilinn (Galway) 1-20
A gradually dominant performance from Maigh Cuilinn propelled them into a Connacht semi-final following their 11-point dismissal of gritty Shamrock Gaels, 1-20 to 1-09, at Tubbercurry's Kilcoyne Park.
Dessie Conneely was the star for Maigh Cuilinn (Moycullen), scoring 1-10, as the Galway club booked a semi-final against Leitrim Gaels thanks to a splendid second half, during which they outscored Shamrock Gaels 1-10 to 0-06 at the south Sligo venue.
This provincial clash brought together Shamrock Gaels, recent winners of their first Sligo SFC title since 1992, and Galway’s Maigh Cuilinn, county champions for the third time in six campaigns.
The last time Maigh Cuilinn faced Sligo opponents was three years ago when they overcame Tourlestrane, then Sligo winners for the seventh successive campaign, in the provincial decider.
Maigh Cuilinn, without Peter Cooke for this fixture, started impressively as they punished a variety of errors from Shamrock Gaels, who struggled to retain possession from their own kickouts.
The visitors led by 0-04 to 0-00 by the ninth minute, with two points apiece from Niall Walsh and free-taker Conneely.
Lee Deignan’s 12th-minute point finally got Shamrock Gaels off the mark although Maigh Cuilinn hit back when the excellent Fionn McDonagh landed the first of his three first-half points.
Shamrock Gaels were inspired by a 15th-minute goal created and finished by the Deignan siblings - Lee’s lengthy delivery found his brother Shane, who finished soccer style to put just a point between them, 0-05 1-01.
But despite the threat of the Deignans, Conor Sheridan’s toil at midfield and potential dividends from direct ball played to their inside forwards, Maigh Cuilinn were that bit more streetwise and went in at the break four points up, 0-10 to 1-03.
Maigh Cuilinn made an electric start to the second half and along with the clinical finishing of Conneely there were superb points from Sean O’Connor and Johnny Maloney.
A big two-pointer from Ciaran Kenny - brother of Glasgow Celtic’s Johnny Kenny - lifted Shamrock Gaels but they were unable to push on as Maigh Cuilinn were now curbing the influence of the Deignans.
Still, with 16 minutes of normal time to go, Shamrock Gaels had the gap down to three points, 0-14 to 1-08, and they might have had a second goal, but midfielder Dillon McDermott’s low shot got a touch off goalkeeper Pierce Greally at the expense of a 45’.
Maigh Cuilinn dominated the last 15 minutes, however, and were already on course for the next stage of the competition when Conneely added a fantastic goal from a stunning build-up.
Shamrock Gaels’ final score was a classy point from Lee Deignan, who was earlier denied by the upright after a jinking run looked certain to end with a score.
Shamrock Gaels: Daniel Lyons, Oisin Conlon, Evan Lyons, Daniel King, Karl McKenna, Ciaran Kenny (0-03, 1tp), Sean Carroll, Conor Sheridan, Dillon McDermott, Patrick Kenny, Lee Deignan (0-04, 1 45’), George Barlow, Shane Deignan (1-01), David Quinn (0-01), James Foley
Subs: David Barlow for George Barlow (16'), Niall Kenny for James Foley (HT), Luke Flynn for Daniel King (56')
Maigh Cuilinn: Pierce Greally, Aidan Claffey, Mike Maughan, Eoghan Kelly, Sean O’Connor (0-01), Sean Kelly, David Wynne (0-01), Paul Kelly (0-01), Tom Clarke, Johnny Maloney (0-01), Niall Walsh (0-02), Ger Davoren, Fionn McDonagh (0-04), Fiachra McDonagh, Dessie Conneely (1-10, 7f)
Subs used: James McLoughlin for Tom Clarke (48'), Killian Gallagher for Fiachra McDonagh (53') Charlie Cox for Ger Davoren (58'), Conor Corcoran for Niall Walsh (58'), Padraic Faherty for Paul Kelly (60')
Referee: Ian Monaghan (Roscommon)
