Team Manager, Derek Savage and his Management team have named their squad for the upcoming Dalata Group U20 Connacht Football Championship.
Team Captain: Colm Costello
Vice Captain: Mark Mannion
Best of luck to our U20 Football Panel and Management for their season ahead!
#riseofthetribes
#gaillimhabĂș
Allianz Football League Division One
Dublin 2-19 (2-1-17) Galway 2-13 (2-1-11)
By Paul Keane at Croke Park
Sean Bugler capped his return to the Dublin team with a brace of goals to keep the Sky Blues well on course for an Allianz Football League final place.
Remarkably, the in-form attacker was named Man of the Match for the fourth time this season having been brought back into the team after missing the defeat to Armagh with a calf injury.
The comeback that raised the biggest cheer among Dublin supporters in the 17,476 crowd, however, was goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton’s.
The veteran, who made his Dublin debut 24 years ago, hadn’t played for his county since last June’s All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to the Tribesmen, a result that spelled Dublin’s earliest exit from the Championship since 2009.
So getting one over on the westerners will have felt particularly sweet for Cluxton and all concerned.
Cormac Costello’s five-point haul was significant too while Luke Breathnach and Con O’Callaghan split eight points evenly between them.
Galway arrived in Dublin as the only team in the top three divisions with an unbeaten record but that is gone now.
They did at least get to welcome back Damien Comer who came on for the first time this year and struck 1-2, lending his power and ability to a second-half fightback that got Galway back within two points early in the final quarter.
Dublin ultimately had too much scoring ability for the 2024 All-Ireland finalists and will be guaranteed a final place if they beat Tyrone in Omagh next weekend. Galway are still very much in the title hunt too and will host Kerry in Salthill next weekend.
Dublin kept the Cluxton comeback well under wraps with the 43-year-old not named among the 26-man squad but able to slot in at the 11th hour due to the apparent unavailability of Evan Comerford.
This season’s new directive that all kick-outs must travel beyond the 40m arc placed a fresh microscope on his distribution skills.
It was a mixed bag for the Parnells stopper who struggled for a spell late in the first-half as Galway fought back after a slow start.
Matthew Thompson, making his full NFL debut for Galway, kicked a score after a turnover on Cluxton’s 26th minute kick-out. Cluxton then went short with the subsequent kick-out only for a Galway player to intercept, the move ending with Thompson getting another point attempt away. This time Hawk-Eye intervened to save Dublin.
Earlier in the half, an errant Cluxton kick ended with a Galway goal chance but the hosts escaped on that occasion too.
Still, no goalkeeper is going to have anything like a 100% record on kick-outs this season with so many going long to 50-50 contests.
And Dublin made enough use of the possession they did win to hit the interval break with a commanding 1-10 to 0-6 lead.
Bugler’s return was one of five changes to the Dublin team from the eight-point Round 5 loss to Armagh.
His first goal came in the 12th minute to put Dublin 1-3 to 0-2 ahead, providing a platform for the joint 2021 league winners to push on.
Ross McGarry, making his seasonal return to the team, was terrific up front initially, helping to set up points for Cormac Costello, Luke Breathnach and Niall Scully.
McGarry pinched a score for himself too while Con O’Callaghan closed out the half for Dublin with two points.
Rob Finnerty started well for Galway, scoring from play and a free, but palmed wide when Shane Walsh placed him for an open goal in the seventh minute and later struck two wides and dropped two short. He was whipped off in the 32nd minute and Walsh, who surprisingly dropped a 30m free short at one stage, was also replaced at half-time.
Walsh, remarkably, came into the game with 15 two-pointers to his credit but he couldn’t add another and Galway only scored one all evening, from Daniel O’Flaherty in the third quarter.
Galway did benefit from the new advanced mark rule though, Matthew Tierney having a shot cleared off the line by Greg McEneaney before play was brought back for the Galway attacker to clip a point.
An already entertaining contest took a turn for the extraordinary between the 47th and 53rd minutes.
Bugler began the dramatic few minutes with his and Dublin’s second goal, blasting to the net after playing a clever 1-2 with Tom Lahiff.
Leading 2-13 to 0-9, Dublin looked virtually home and hosed but Comer’s introduction had an immediate impact for Galway. Already energised by O’Flaherty’s two-pointer, Galway then worked a ball in to Comer who secured an advanced mark though the ball ended up in the net from the move, when John Maher’s shot was deflected in off Dublin full-back Theo Clancy.
Comer then netted himself in the 53rd minute, capitalising on great work by Cillian O Curraoin and Cillian McDaid. Comer’s rocket shot almost took the net off the pegs and suddenly Dublin led by just 2-13 to 2-11.
Comer kept the gas down and fired over two more points late on, one from an advanced mark, but Dublin couldn’t be caught. Four Dublin points in a row from Costello, Killian McGinnis, McGarry and Cian Murphy between the 55th and 60th minutes ultimately gave them a vital cushion to see it out.
Scorers for Dublin:Â Sean Bugler 2-0, Cormac Costello 0-5 (2fs, 1 45), Luke Breathnach 0-4 (1 tp), Con O’Callaghan 0-4, Ross McGarry 0-2, Niall Scully 0-1, Killian McGinnis 0-1, Cian Murphy 0-1, Lorcan O’Dell 0-1.
Scorers for Galway:Â Damien Comer 1-2 (1m), John Maher 1-0, Rob Finnerty 0-2 (1f), Daniel O’Flaherty 0-2 (tp), Matthew Tierney 0-2 (0-1m), Matthew Thompson 0-1, Dylan McHugh 0-1, Cein Darcy 0-1, Liam O Conghaile 0-1, Cillian McDaid 0-1.
Dublin: Stephen Cluxton; David Byrne, Theo Clancy, Conor Tyrrell; Brian Howard, Sean MacMahon, Cian Murphy; Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne, Tom Lahiff; Niall Scully, Con O’Callaghan, Sean Bugler; Ross McGarry, Luke Breathnach, Cormac Costello.
Subs: Killian McGinnis for O Cofaigh Byrne 43, James Maddenfor Scully 54, Lorcan O’Dell for Breathnach 54, Kevin Lahiff for McGarry 62, Davy Keogh for Costello 68.
Galway: Connor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Sean Fitzgerald, Daniel O’Flaherty; Dylan McHugh, Liam Silke, Sean Kelly; Paul Conroy, John Maher; Matthew Tierney, Cillian McDaid, Cein Darcy; Rob Finnerty, Shane Walsh, Matthew Thompson.
Subs: Liam O Conghaile for Finnerty 32, Cillian O Curraoin for Walsh h/t, Jack Glynn for McHugh 40, Damien Comer for Conroy 46, Sam O’Neill for Fitzgerald 58.
Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan).
Our Senior Footballers travel to Croke Park on Saturday to face Dublin in Round 6 of the Allianz Football League.
Best of luck to Padraic, Team Management and our Senior Footballers!
Galway GAA are deeply saddened at the news that Billy, a former Galway Senior Footballer and uncle of Senior Football Manager, PĂĄdraic Joyce has sadly passed away.
A native of Killererin, Billy lined out for the Tribesmen in a career spanning 15 years from 1969 until his retirement in 1984.
During that time, he won eight Connacht Senior Football Titles with Galway (1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1982, 1983, 1984) and played in four All-Ireland Senior Football finals (1971, 1973, 1974 and 1983). Billy played at midfield on the last Galway Football Team that won the National League Title in the 1980/1981 season.
As a coach, Billy was manager of the Galway team that won the 1985 All-Ireland Junior Football Championship. He managed the Galway Senior Football team between 1986-1989 leading them to a Connacht Senior Football title in 1987. Billy won County and Connacht Club Football titles with his beloved club Killererin in 1976 and 1978 and he also managed the Club to win the County Senior Football Championship in 2004. He also served as Club’s Treasurer for thirty years.
We extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Maura, sons Barry, Nicky & Robert, daughter Amanda and all the extended Joyce family.
Ar dheis DĂ© go raibh a anam
Funeral Arrangements:Â
https://rip.ie/death-notice/william-billy-joyce-galway-tuam-588050
Allianz Football League Division One
Galway 1-18 (1-6-6) Tyrone 1-18 (1-2-14)
By Cian OâConnell at Tuam Stadium
A compelling contest in the west eventually ended with the spoils being divided.
Shane Walshâs sweet two pointer free with the last kick of the afternoon into the teeth of the wind ensured Galway preserved their unbeaten record.
Mattie Donnelly had edged Tyrone in front moments earlier, but Galwayâs perseverance was rewarded.
Tyrone contributed handsomely to a splendid match, enjoying many productive moments in a lively opening period with the teams departing deadlocked at the break, 0-11 to 1-8.
With Malachy OâRourkeâs outfit primed for a battle, Galwayâs long range shooting was a key factor initially.
Before the interval Galway nailed four two pointers including frees from Rob Finnerty (2) and Walsh, and one gorgeous effort from play by Paul Conroy.
At the opposite end of the field, though, Tyrone, prompted by the excellent Darragh Canavan and Mark Bradley, were impressing.
A ninth minute goal, crafted in Errigal Ciaran, highlighted Tyroneâs ability as Peter Harteâs laser pass located Canavan, who supplied a crisp finish.
Canavanâs major guided Tyrone 1-2 to 0-2 ahead at the juncture and the game continued at a decent clip.
In the 13th minute Galway custodian Conor Flaherty made a sharp penalty save to deny Harte as the locals survived a significant scare.
When the interval eventually rolled around the teams were deadlocked and the issue was delicately poised.
Tyrone were backed by a strong breeze after the restart, but they were unable to shrug off Galwayâs resistance.
Bradley and Canavan caused plenty of damage, but Galway were still very much in contention, trailing 1-15 to 0-15 with 12 minutes left.
Galway captain SeĂĄn Kelly was fouled by Peter Teague with Walsh converting the resultant penalty with aplomb.
Tyrone substitute Darren McCurry rifled over a brilliant point. Walsh summoned an equaliser. Then Donnelly edged Tyrone two clear with a fine score from outside the arc.
Admirably, Galway refused to be perturbed, and a Tyrone breach was punished with Walsh expertly nailing a free from the deck. It was a fitting end to a thoroughly enjoyable encounter.
Scorers for Galway: Shane Walsh 1-7 (1-0 pen, 3 2ptf), Rob Finnerty 0-4 (2 2pts), Cillian McDaid, Paul Conroy (2pt) and Jack OâNeill (1f) 0-2 each, CĂ©in DâArcy 0-1.
Scorers for Tyrone:Â Darragh Canavan 1-5 (2fs), Mark Bradley 0-7 (1 2ptf, 1m, 1f), Mattie Donnelly 0-3 (1 2pt), Conn Kilpatrick, Kieran McGeary, and Darren McCurry 0-1 each.
Galway: Conor Flaherty; Johnny McGrath, Jack Glynn, Daniel OâFlaherty; Liam Silke, SeĂĄn Ă MaoilchiarĂĄin, SeĂĄn Kelly; Cian Hernon, John Maher; Cathal Sweeney, Cillian McDaid, Jack OâNeill; Rob Finnerty, Paul Conroy, Shane Walsh.
Subs: Dylan McHugh for Glynn (HT), CĂ©in DâArcy for Hernon (HT), Matthew Thompson for Sweeney (55), Finnian Ă Laoi for OâNeill (58, temp), Brian Mannion for Finnerty (58, temp), Kieran Molloy for McDaid (70).
Tyrone: Niall Morgan; Niall Devlin, Peter Teague, Aidan Clarke; Michael McKernan, Rory Brennan, Kieran McGeary; Brian Kennedy, Conn Kilpatrick; Aodhan Donaghy, Mattie Donnelly, CiarĂĄn Daly; Peter Harte, Mark Bradley, Darragh Canavan.
Subs: Joe Oguz for Donaghy (53), Darren McCurry for Peter Harte (57).
Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare).
Our Senior Footballers are in Tuam Stadium on Sunday and welcome visitors Tyrone for Round 5 of the Allianz Football League.
Best of luck to Padraic, Team Management and our Senior Footballers!
#riseofthetribes
#gailllimhabĂș
Allianz Football League Division One
Galway 0-21 (0-7-7) Donegal 0-14 (0-3-8)
By Billy Coss at Pearse Stadium
Shane Walsh of Galway in action against Brendan McCole of Donegal during the Allianz Football League Division 1 match between Galway and Donegal at Pearse Stadium in Galway. Photo by Piaras Ă MĂdheach/Sportsfile.
They played the second 35 minutes with 14 men following Matthew Tierney’s dismissal, and another half of it with just 13 owing to a pair of black cards, but Galwayâs status as the two-point kings of the National Football League ultimately banked enough scores to hand Donegal their first defeat of the campaign and dislodge them from top spot in Division 1.
Shane Walsh maintained his terrific start to 2025 with his shooting outside the arc contributing four more two-pointers, three coming from play – taking his overall total up to 12. Tierney, Rob Finnerty and ‘keeper Conor Flaherty also got in on the act with orange flags as the hosts ran up an unanswered 17-point advantage while backed by a gale whipping in from the Ărus Bothar na TrĂĄ end.
Conor O’Donnell’s 30th minute free saved Donegal from ending the half without any tangible return and their prospects further improved when Tierney picked up a straight red from referee David Coldrick seconds before the break following a challenge on Hugh McFadden.
Galway adapted best with and against the elements but would lose Daniel O’Flaherty and later Finnian Ă Laoi to black cards in the second half. However, the finishing of Walsh kept their tally ticking over as Donegal struggled to build flow or momentum.
Tellingly, the margin never dipped below eight points. 0-17 to 0-1 at the break became 0-19 to 0-6 on 51 minutes and 0-19 to 0-11 just after the hour mark. With a couple of two-pointers to his name, Daire Ă Baoill carried the biggest threat for the visitors who were missing last weekâs man of the match Paddy McBrearty, Ryan McHugh and Michael Murphy.
Peadar Mogan kicked another from range and Shane O’Donnell, Ă Baoill and Ciaran Thompson all added final quarter points, but the Tribesmen held firm despite their numerical disadvantage and claimed a valuable bounceback victory following last week’s draw in Derry.
Captain SeĂĄn Kelly and John Maher were others to impress for the winners as they leapfrogged Donegal and Dublin to move to the summit of the table ahead of Tyrone’s visit to Tuam Stadium next Sunday.
Donegal, meanwhile, welcome Derry to Fr. Tierney Park, Ballyshannon for what will be their fifth straight weekend of action.
Scorers for Galway:Â Shane Walsh 0-11 (3 2pt, 1 2ptf); Rob Finnerty 0-3 (1 2ptf); Matthew Tierney (2pt) and Conor Flaherty (2 pt) 0-2 each; Daniel O’Flaherty, John Maher and Liam Silke 0-1 each.
Scorers for Donegal:Â Daire Ă Baoill 0-6 (2 2pt), Peadar Mogan (1 2pt), Conor O’Donnell (1f) and Ciaran Thompson 0-2 each; OisĂn Gallen and Shane O’Donnell 0-1 each.
Galway: Conor Faherty; Johnny McGrath, SeĂĄn Fitzgerald, Daniel O’Flaherty; Dylan McHugh, Liam Silke, SeĂĄn Kelly (captain); Cian Hernon, John Maher; Matthew Tierney, CĂ©in D’Arcy, Cathal Sweeney; Rob Finnerty, Shane Walsh, Sam O’Neill. Subs: Connor Gleeson for Flaherty (HT), Finnian Ă Laoi for O’Neill (44), Jack Glynn for Fitzgerald (44); SeĂĄn Mulkerrin for Hernon (51); Matthew Thompson for Finnerty (61).
Donegal: Shaun Patton; Mark Curran, Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan; Eoin McHugh, Caolan McGonagle (captain), Ciaran Moore; Hugh McFadden, Domhnall Mac Giolla BhrĂde; Odhran Doherty, DĂĄire Ă Baoill, Jamie Brennan; Conor OâDonnell, OisĂn Gallen, Shane OâDonnell. Subs: Eoghan BĂĄn Gallagher for Eoin McHugh (HT), Ciaran Thompson for Mac Giolla BhrĂde (HT), Niall O’Donnell for Doherty (HT), Jeaic Mac CeallabhuĂ for McFadden (57), Charles McGuinness for Brennan (57).
Referee:Â David Coldrick (Meath).
Our Senior Footballers are back in Pearse Stadium on Sunday and welcome visitors Donegal for Round 4 of the Allianz Football League.
Allianz Football League Division One
Derry 0-16 (0-1-14) Galway 1-13 (1-3-7)
By Michael Wilson at Celtic Park
Substitute Lachlan Murray inspired Derry’s superb second half fightback as Paddy Tally’s Oak Leafers picked up a first league point of the season against a Galway team who remain unbeaten after three games.
Indeed Padraic Joyce’s outfit looked set for a third straight victory when they lead by nine at half-time, but where instead grateful to John Daly’s late block on Ethan Doherty’s shot with only 10 seconds left on the clock.
It was a remarkable transformation from the home side. Tepid and laboured in the opening half, Derry were through the gears to outscore the Tribesmen by 0-12 to 0-3 in a thrilling second half in which Murray helped himself to 0-3 in a hugely impressive cameo.
There was more good news for Derry with the late introduction off the bench of Padraig McGrogan for his first appearance since suffering a cruciate ligament injury nine months ago.
Honours even, with both side having plenty top take from a game that only really caught fire in the second half. Both teams will feel they should have won; both won’t be too disappointed with the draw.
Coming into the game with a perfect record after two games, Galway started like a side completely at ease with Gaelic football’s bright new era, Walsh in particular enjoying himself with 0-6 before half-time, two of which were from his now trademark two pointers.
In contrast Derry’s build up looked laborious, too many passes, too slow and lacking imagination throughout an opening half that was dominated by the Tribesmen who could have been further ahead than their eventual 1-10 to 0-04 interval lead.
That came about largely thanks to Dylan’s McHugh’s ninth minute goal which handed Padraic Joyce’s team a grip that tightened as the opening half progressed. And like the five Kerry hit in Celtic Park two weeks previous, this was another Derry won’t want to see back again.
The excellent John Maher was the architect, picking out McHugh who had ran off Anton Tohill’s shoulder to get himself in on goal. The half-back still had plenty to do, but despite his low shot looking central, it still had too much for Neil McNicholl making his second appearance in the Oak Leaf net.
The goal was the game’s third score after early points from Shane McGuigan for Derry and Cillian O Curraoin for Galway, but thereafter only Paul Cassidy’s three points put a dent in Galway’s first half charge.
Walsh, who had been quiet in the opening quarter, exploded into life on 19 minutes with his opening two pointer, firing over from out under the main Celtic Park stand, and then followed it up with a second less than 90 seconds later.
The scoring burst took Galway to 1-8 against Derry’s 0-3 and it could have been worse for the home side when Daly’s sublime ball picked out the inside run of Matthew Tierney who was through on goal. Conor Doherty was chasing back, and he fouled Tierney.
Celtic Park held it’s breath, but free was referee David Gough’s decision, Walsh tapping over to make it a personal 0-5 without reply.
Cassidy’s third stemmed the tide momentarily but when Walsh sold a lovely dummy and pointed, Galway were well worth their commanding nine point interval lead.
McGuigan’s second of the game, a free after a foul on Conor Glass, signalled more intent from the home side. A fisted point from Cein Darcy’s was Galway’s instant response but within seconds Derry keeper Nicholl was charging through on to McFaul’s probing pass.
A midfielder by trade, McNicholl did everything right, surging inside and firing a shot that bound for the top corner until John Daly did brilliantly to get his hand to it and deflect the shot over the bar.
A point was scant reward for a great move but the pendulum had swung and Derry were making hay. Both McFaul and Toner had already sent efforts short before Galway were penalised for a three-on-three infraction and McGuigan hit Derry’s first two pointer of the evening from the resulting free.
Now six down, he introduction of Murray transformed the Oak Leaf attack his point, along with two from McGuigan and Conor Glass brought Tally’s men back to within three at 0-11 to 1-11 with 15 minutes left to play.
Walsh landed his third pointer, this time from the free moved forward, but it failed to halt the Derry charge. Murray’s third point was followed by two McGuigan frees to tie the game.
Derry looked set for victory when Doherty broke through, but John Daly had other ideas.
Scorers for Derry:Â Shane McGuigan 0-8 (1tpf, 3f), Paul Cassidy 0-3, Neil McNicholl 0-1, Lachlan Murray 0-3, Conor Glass 0-1,
Scorers for Galway:Â Shane Walsh 0-8 (2tp, 1tpf, 1f), Cillian O Curraoin 0-1 (01), Dylan McHugh 1-0, Matthew Tierney 0-1, John Maher 0-1, Sam O’Neill 0-1, Cein Darcy 0-1,
Derry: Neil McNicholl, Diarmuid Baker, Eoin McEvoy, Martin Bradley, Conor Doherty, Brendan Rogers, Declan Cassidy, Conor Glass, Anton Tohill, Ciaran McFaul, Paul Cassidy, Ethan Doherty, Ben McCarron, Shane McGuigan, Niall Toner.
Subs: Lachlan Murray for B McCarron, 43mins; Mark Doherty for D Cassidy, 50mins; Cahir McMonagle for N Toner, 58mins; Padraig McGrogan for McBradley, 64mins
Galway: Connor Gleeson, Johnny McGrath, Sean Fitzgerald, Liam Silke, Dylan McHugh, John Daly, Sean Kelly, Paul Conroy, John Maher, Sam O’Neill, Shane Walsh, Cein Darcy, Cillian O Curraoin, Matthew Tierney, Finnian O Laoi.
Subs: Robert Finnerty for C O Curraoin, 43mins; Johnny Heaney for F O Laoi, 48mins; Kieran Molloy for S O’Neill, 54mins; Daniel O’Flaherty for C Darcy, 60mins.
Referee: David Gough (Meath).
Our Senior Footballers travel to Celtic Park on Saturday to face Derry in Round 3 of the Allianz Football League.
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