ALL-IRELAND UNDER-21 FC SEMI-FINALS:GALWAY QUALIFIED for the All-Ireland U-21 football final as a result of a merited two-point win over a fancied Cork at a sunny Cusack Park, Ennis, on Saturday evening. Galway 1-11 Cork 0-12:
The Westerners were marginally the better side, though they did trail by a point (0-7 to 0-6) at the break and went four points down early in the second period. But a well-taken goal by wing-forward Michael Boyle in the 51st minute turned the tables on a Cork side who lost their influential mid-fielder and team captain Aidan Walsh moments earlier with a hamstring injury.
Despite putting in an impressive first-half performance, Galway’s prospects looked bleak, as by the mid-point of the second half they found themselves four points in arrears, a fact acknowledged by Galway manager Alan Mulholland.
“To be honest it was looking grim at that point,” he said. “But we held our heads. Cork are a very good side. We talked about if we were behind, not to lose the head. We just stuck in there and we kind of thought that if we were there, or there abouts with five or 10 minutes to go, that we could pull it off and we did.”
The Connacht champions took control early on. With Tomás Flynn and Fiontán Ó Curraoin dominating at midfield, it was no surprise that Galway led 0-5 to 0-2 by the end of the first quarter.
But once the Rebels found their rhythm, they fought back and four unanswered points over an 11-minute spell saw then take the lead for the first time.
After the break, Galway equalised through Boyle before Cork’s attack found its range with well-taken points by the industrious Ciarán Sheehan, Barry O’Driscoll and two from Mark Collins.
Galway stayed in touch though and were rewarded with a point from play by Eric Monahan and two frees by Mark Hehir to leave them trailing by 0-11 to 0-10 with 11 minutes remaining.
Boyle’s goal, the turning point, arrived moments later. Hehir found sub Adrian Murphy who passed to Boyle in space. He made no mistake with a well-drilled low shot past Cork ’keeper John Mellet.
It proved decisive and Galway will now face Cavan in the final.
GALWAY: M Breathnach; G Sweeney, C Forde, A Tierney; J Moore, J Duane, T Fahy; T Flynn (0-1), F Ó Curraoin; C Doherty, M Hehir (0-6, 0-3 frees), M Boyle (1-1); D Cummins, P Sweeney, E Monahan (0-2, 0-1 free). Subs: A Murphy for P Sweeney (41 mins), M Farraghar for Cummins (57 mins), JJ Greaney for Monahan (60 mins).
CORK: J Mellet; L Jennings, D Cahalane, A Cronin; P Daly, T Clancy, J Wall; M O'Leary, A Walsh (0-1); C Sheehan (0-4), M Collins (0-3, 0-1 free), J O'Rourke; B O'Driscoll (0-2), D Óg Hodnett (0-1), B Coughlan. Subs: D Nation for O'Leary (half-time), K Hallissey (0-1) for Walsh (48 mins), E Buckley for Coghlan (49 mins).
Referee: J Curley (Meath).
