May ended this forgettable Connacht final with six players playing their first provincial final.
Of this sextet, four, Oisín Mullin, Eoghan McLaughlin, Bryan Walsh and Jordan Flynn, made their championship debuts two weeks ago. Another member of the six, Mark Moran, made his championship debut when he performed here.
Yes, Mayo stood his ground in the end, but he held on, and his success in doing so and moving within 70 minutes of a final spot for all of Ireland should not be lazily attributed to the collective experience and knowledge of James Horan’s group.
The fact that the winners managed to keep Galway at a distance of two points or more until the last minute of stoppages in the second half was due in large part to the respective demonstrations of these May newcomers.
Tommy Conroy and Matthew Ruane, two others playing in their first Connacht final, had been eliminated before the finish line, but the couple’s withdrawal is not due to the fact that their fingerprints are stained from the entire May 47 win. in Connacht.
Conroy, who first got a taste of championship action earlier this month, kicked out two of his team’s first three scores to help Mayo calm down in the first six minutes. His third white flag was part of the three pivotal points of May followed in the early second half, when visitors were adjusting to life against the typically disruptive elements of Salthill.
Ruane and backup Bryan Walsh contributed the other two points from this outburst, again highlighting the impact of Mayo’s new base. Both Ruane and Walsh finished 0-2 next to their name. You can both be extremely pleased with your presentation.
Sean Kelly from Galway is approached by Eoghan McLaughlin de Mayo. Image: David Fitzgerald / Sportsfile
In all, 10 of the 20 players used by Horan were playing in his first Connacht final. And it was these newcomers that the manager pointed out afterward.
“It’s the first time that many guys have played here, regardless of a Connacht final,” Horan said. “Every player likes a provincial title. Having that on your first try is great.
“It was an outrageous score for Bryan. Cut on the right, under pressure, at a crucial moment for us, ”the coach said of Walsh’s first point.
“He was excellent in the second half. He brought a lot of composure when we needed him.
“Mattie Ruane had a great rotation at 45, and Eoghan McLaughlin did too. There’s nothing like turnover – it gave the whole place a boost. It also shakes up the opposition. We have some of those at crucial times. “
Ruane’s fist in the 32nd minute sent the visitors 0-7 to 0-2 clear, but three points from first-half stoppages led to a Galway team that did not score in the game during a 37-minute period of the first half back in contention. .
It was the hosts, despite being behind, who were happiest with the score from 0-8 to 0-5.
The winners, who did not take much advantage of the elements, finished the half with six widths, while Bernard Power avoided a goal-scoring opportunity from Cillian O’Connor. The Galway keeper was even more impressive when he repelled an attack by Eoghan McLaughlin in the second period.
Mayo’s aforementioned three-point burst between 37-40 minutes left the scoreboard reading 0-11 to 0-6, and proved to be a considerable enough buffer, as a Galway team lacking ideas gradually recovered. the deficit.
Following Gary O’Donnell’s point 31 seconds after the change of ends, no Galway player outside of Shane Walsh (0-4, 0-2 free) and Paul Conroy (0-3) found the target in the second half.
Walsh’s two points in the game were exquisite. Conroy’s third, meanwhile, narrowed the gap to two that went red.
Neither of Walsh’s two failed free kicks in injury time were gimmes, but he had converted an equally challenging placed-ball effort early in the half.
An ordinary free tap followed as the clock ticked. Should the Galway captain have tried his hand at the side kick to death instead of coming up short? Since the side line was outside the 45-meter line, the degree of difficulty was high. Very high.
His pass was delivered and the final whistle sounded shortly thereafter, Mayo celebrating Connacht’s first final win in five years.
“We had to go to Leitrim, go to Roscommon and then go to Galway, and hang in there for four minutes of stoppage time and win, it’s a great achievement by the guys,” Horan said. “To have that journey and all the mistakes, and still get ahead, we are delighted. We are sure to be absolutely excited to attempt an Irish semi-final. “
After five games in 28 days, they now enjoy a welcome break before returning inside the ring in three weeks.
Shane Walsh’s pair of free kicks on second-half stops. Galway was trailing by two when Walsh stood on both kicks and if even one of them had been converted, overtime would probably have been forced. However, that is not to blame the Galway captain. If it weren’t for their white flag loot, Galway wouldn’t have been within contact distance when the finish line came into view.
How poor was this game. Mayo managed just three points in the final 34 minutes, only one of which came from play, and yet this was enough to see them come through.
Of the 20 players used by James Horan, it was Connacht’s first final appearance for half of them (Oisín Mullin, Eoghan McLaughlin, Conor Loftus, Matthew Ruane, Mark Moran, Tommy Conroy, Jordan Flynn, Bryan Walsh, Fionn McDonagh and Ryan O’Donoghue).
Galway’s 2020 season pre and post close is chalk and cheese. The Westerners won four of their five Division 1 starts before the lockout, since then they have lost three of three.
Mayo midfielder Matthew Ruane was impressive from the start. Tommy Conroy showed a good performance in the first half. Bryan Walsh kicked two crucial points in his presentation. Shane Walsh threw a couple of great scores for Galway, but he will be disappointed with those lost free practice.
Galway put a sweeper in front of Aidan O’Shea every time the latter moved into full forward position during the first half. The chaos he caused during the league meeting last month was not repeated here.
Galway lost defender Johnny Duane to a serious knee injury in the first half. Damien Comer, who has struggled with a hamstring injury and was not among the 26 Galway players included in the match schedule, wore the number nine jersey intended for Tom Flynn. Comer showed up with 20 minutes remaining, but had no real impact.
Sean Hurson stood his ground on Galway defender Seán Kelly was fouled off the great parallelogram by Eoghan McLaughlin in the 73rd minute. Galway’s pleas for a penalty fell on deaf ears.
May will face Cork or Tipperary in the Irish semi-final on the weekend of December 5-6.
C O’Connor (0-4, 0-3 free); T Conroy (0-3); M Ruane, B Walsh (0-2 each); R O’Donoghue, D O’Connor, P Durcan (0-1 each).
S Walsh (0-7, 0-4 free); P Conroy (0-3); D Conneely, P Kelly, G O’Donnell (0-1 each).
B Power; L. Silke, S. Kelly, C. McDaid; G O’Donnell, J Duane, J Heaney; C D’Arcy, M. Daly; P. Kelly, P. Conroy, S. Mulkerrin; D Conneely, S Walsh, I Burke.
R Steede by D’Arcy (24); G Bradshaw for Duane (28); C Molloy for O; Donnell (45); D Eat by Burke (50); G Sice for P Kelly (63).
D Clarke; O Mullin, P Durcan, C Barrett; S Coen, L Keegan, E McLaughlin; C Loftus, M Ruane; K McLoughlin, R. O’Donoghue, D. O’Connor; T Conroy, A O’Shea, C O’Connor.
O’Donoghue B Walsh (HT); J Flynn for Loftus (59); M Moran for Conroy (61); K Higgins for McLoughlin (64); F McDonagh by Ruane (72).
S Hurson (Tyrone).
