Electric Ireland Connacht Minor Football semi-final

GALWAY 0-14 SLIGO 0-12

By Billy Coss at Fr. Kilcoyne Park

Their ability to create and convert chances in a pressure-cooker finale proved the difference as Galway defeated Sligo to qualify for the Electric Ireland Connacht Minor (U-17) Football Championship final and also advance to the last eight of the All-Ireland series.

When Jack Kelly raised the first of his two late orange flags for Sligo in the 55th minute, the hosts were right on Galway’s coattails trailing by 0-10 to 0-9 as a tight and tense provincial semi-final was in the midst of a grandstand finish.

But Galway’s response was the winning of the game as a run of four points without reply from Ruairí Flaherty, Oliver Ó Suilleabháin, Mikey Mitchell and the excellent Adam Healy opened their biggest lead of the evening and insulated against a late rally from Sligo.

Wearing their changed strip of all white, Galway never trailed and led 0-6 to 0-3 at the break. Goalkeeper Evan Burke was their star of that half, converting two placed balls from range on top of a superb point-blank save to deny Sligo’s Aodhán Hannon. Healy, Shane Heneghan, Eanna Maher and Tiernan Mitchell also found the range for the Tribesmen.

Sligo came in targeting a first provincial final appearance since 2021 when they collected the last of their three titles at the grade. Points from Nathan McLoughlin, Jack Kelly and a Ryan Lang free kept them in touch at the change of ends, but they were left to rue their finishing, including a couple of one-on-one goal chances that came to nought.

Ownie Coyle’s side rallied and enjoyed the better of the third quarter. Lang racked up 1-23 in his three previous outings, including a sensational injury-time winner against Mayo. Sligo’s chief marksman became more prominent and kicked two points, as did Danny Feeney.

However, Galway always kept their noses in front and were 0-8 to 0-7 up with 45 minutes on the clock. Adam Healy added his second and third scores of the contest, while Oisín Ó Neachtáin also landed a couple of inspirational efforts to make it a three-point game with 54 minutes gone.

Kelly’s towering kick from outside the arc reduced it to 0-10 to 0-9 and gave Sligo energy before Galway responded with match-defining run of scores through Flaherty, Ó Suilleabháin, Mitchell and a fourth from Healy to take the game away.

Sligo rallied in time added on when Kelly sent over his second two-pointer before Lang’s attempt at a goal from a close-range free after a Galway breach went over the crossbar in the last act of the game as the visitors held on to book a final against Roscommon next Friday at Tuam Stadium.

Scorers for Galway: Adam Healy 0-4; Evan Burke (1f, 145) and Oisín Ó Neachtáin 0-2 each; Oliver Ó Suilleabháin, Éanna Maher, Tiernan Mitchell, Shane Heneghan, Mikey Mitchell and Ruairí Flaherty 0-1 each.

Scorers for Sligo: Jack Kelly 0-5 (2tp); Ryan Lang 0-4 (3f); Danny Feeney 0-2 (1f); Nathan McLoughlin 0-1.

Galway: Evan Burke; Evan McDonagh, Ciarán Collins, Mylo Higgins; Jamie Dillon, Eoin Gannon (captain), Oliver Ó Suilleabháin; Oisín Ó Neachtáin, Darragh Kelly; Ryan Connolly, Joey Cullinane, Éanna Maher; Tiernan Mitchell, Shane Heneghan, Adam Healy. Subs: Mikey Mitchell for Heneghan (38), Ruairí Flaherty for Connolly (49), Aaron Hanrahan for Maher (60+3).

Sligo: James Broderick; Jake Noone, Hugh O’Connell, Pól Arnold; Nathan McLoughlin, Matthew Gillen, Seán Óg McDonagh; Allan Smyth, Éanna Giblin (captain); Oisín Gormley, Danny Feeney, Ryan Healy; Aodhán Hannon, Ryan Lang, Jack Kelly. Subs: Bríain McGauran for Hannon (38), Niall Willis for Smyth (53), Josh McTiernan for Gormley (54), Cian O’Flaherty for McLoughlin (60+3), Martin McManus for Healy (60+5).

Referee: Martin Feeney (Leitrim).