Galway were given a bit of a fright before they overcame the challenge of a brave Leitrim outfit in a competitive Connacht SFC semi-final clash in Carrick-on-Shannon.
The Tribesmen led all the way in this clash but two second-half Leitrim goals by Oisin McLoughlin and Jack Kelly put the home side in the hunt for what would have been a major shock had they turned the tables on the visitors.
A 57th-minute Dylan McHugh goal gave Galway a big shot in the arm prior to a Leitrim surge. Galway manager Padraic Joyce was happy to have Paul Conroy on the field for the whole game while Shane Walsh and Damien Comer made quite an impact when introduced as second-half subs.
It took both teams some time to settle into the game with each side registering wides at opposite ends. After that John Daly opened Galway's account with an eighth-minute point while over the next five minutes Robert Finnerty put over a free for the Tribesmen and Finnian Ó Laoi chipped in with a point.
Riordan O'Rourke opened Leitrim's account when he split the Galway uprights on the 13-minute mark. Galway stretched their lead over the next seven minutes with a Liam Ó Conghaile point and Paul Conroy two-pointer.
Leitrim halved Galway's advantage when goalkeeper Killian Gaffey put over a two-pointer from a 23-minute placed ball. After that Galway extended their lead with a Finnerty two-pointed free and a Cillian McDaid point shortly afterwards.
Galway had a let-off when Barry McNulty drove a 29th-minute goal chance inches wide. Prior to the break Ó Conghaile whipped over a two-pointer to put Galway ahead by 0-11 to 0-04 at the break.
After the restart Leitrim reduced the gap on Galway to three points when Oisin McLoughlin got the game's opening goal after a Ryan O'Rourke penalty was saved by Galway goalkeeper Conor Gleson.
Following that Galway finished off the second half with a small flourish when Rob Finnerty added a point from a free and Shane Walsh also split the Leitrim posts to put them through the Tribesmen through to their 11th Connacht final in a row.
Galway: Conor Flaherty; Johnny McGrath, Seán Fitzgerald, Seán Ó'Mailcharáin; Dylan McHugh (1-01), John Daly (0-01), Liam Silke; Paul Conroy (0-03, 1tp), John Maher (0-01); Finnian Ó Laoí (0-01), Liam Ó'Conghaile (0-03, 1tp), Cillian McDaid (0-02); Robert Finnerty (0-04, 1tp 2f), Céin Darcy, Oisín MacDonnacha.
Subs: Shane Walsh (0-03 2f) for Mac Donnacha (41), Shane McGrath for O Laoi (41), Conor Gleeson for Ó'Conghaile (48), Sean Kelly (0-01) for McGrath (61), Shane McGrath (0-01) for Flaherty (68), Maiteas Bairéid for McDaid (69).
Leitrim: Killian Gaffey (0-03, 1tp, 1 '45'; Cillian McGloin; Conor Reynolds, Seán Harkin; Eoin McLoughlin, Mark Diffley, Keith Keegan; Conor Quinn, Barry McNulty (0-02, 1pf); Fergal McLoughlin, Riordan O'Rourke (0-02), Tom Prior; Ben Guckian (0-01f), Ryan O'Rourke (0-01f), Oisin McLoughlin (1-01)
Subs: Paul Honeyman (0-02) for Guckian (45), Jack Kelly (1-00) for F Mcloughlin (54), Kieran Clancy for Harkin (57), Eanna McNamara for McGloin (60), Michael McKiernan for Quinn (69).
Referee: Niall Cullen (Fermanagh).
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