Our Senior Footballers are in Tuam Stadium on Sunday and welcome visitors Tyrone for Round 5 of the Allianz Football League.
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 Ó Mídheach/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 Galway’s 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 Árus Bothar na Trá 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 Ó 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 Ó Baoill carried the biggest threat for the visitors who were missing last week’s man of the match Paddy McBrearty, Ryan McHugh and Michael Murphy.
Peadar Mogan kicked another from range and Shane O’Donnell, Ó 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 Seán 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: 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: Daire Ó Baoill 0-6 (2 2pt), Peadar Mogan (1 2pt), Conor O’Donnell (1f) and Ciaran Thompson 0-2 each; Oisín Gallen and Shane O’Donnell 0-1 each.
Galway: Conor Faherty; Johnny McGrath, Seán Fitzgerald, Daniel O’Flaherty; Dylan McHugh, Liam Silke, Seán Kelly (captain); Cian Hernon, John Maher; Matthew Tierney, Céin D’Arcy, Cathal Sweeney; Rob Finnerty, Shane Walsh, Sam O’Neill. Subs: Connor Gleeson for Flaherty (HT), Finnian Ó Laoi for O’Neill (44), Jack Glynn for Fitzgerald (44); Seán 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 Bhríde; Odhran Doherty, Dáire Ó Baoill, Jamie Brennan; Conor O’Donnell, Oisín Gallen, Shane O’Donnell. Subs: Eoghan Bán Gallagher for Eoin McHugh (HT), Ciaran Thompson for Mac Giolla Bhríde (HT), Niall O’Donnell for Doherty (HT), Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí for McFadden (57), Charles McGuinness for Brennan (57).
Referee: 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: 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: 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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Allianz Football League Division One
Galway 0-26 (0-7-12) Mayo 0-16 (0-1-14)
By Colm Gannon at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park
Galway saw off Mayo in ease by 10 points in Castlebar, thanks in a large part to their expertise of taking advantage of the new rules. They kicked seven two pointers in total, with two of them coming from Mayo giving away frees for not having three men back in their own half.
Mayo had held a narrow one-point lead at half time, having twice battled back from four-point deficits.
The hosts struck first, with Seán Morahan scoring within the opening minute, it was followed by a ’45’ from Conor Gleeson and a close-range point from Paul Conroy, giving Galway an early advantage.
Conor Reid quickly levelled for Mayo, but Galway responded strongly, with points from Sean Kelly, Shane Walsh, and Dylan McHugh pushing them three points clear.
Kelly then squandered a clear goal-scoring opportunity, his shot saved by Colm Reape, but it didn’t take long for Conroy to extend Galway’s lead to 0-6 to 0-2.
Mayo attempted to begin their comeback with a point from Frank Irwin, and Davitt Neary looked to have narrowed the gap further, but his score was disallowed due to a Mayo not having three players in their defensive half and Cillian Ó’Curraoin converted the resulting free, restoring Galway’s four-point cushion.
Mayo’s response was swift. Paul Towey scored a fine point, and Conor Reid added another to reduce the deficit to two.
Towey then hit for the game’s first two-point score, levelling the match at seven points each. Donnacha McHugh put Mayo in the lead, but then missed a chance to extend it, scuffing a close-range shot wide. Sean Kelly equalised for Galway, but Towey scored his third point of the half just before the break, giving Mayo a 0-9 to 0-8 lead.
The second half began with Walsh immediately putting Galway into the lead with a long-range two-point effort effort. Ó’Curraoin then added a point to put Galway two infront, and his two-point free extended their lead to four.
Neary responded for Mayo, but Walsh landed another long-range shot, giving Galway a commanding 0-15 to 0-10 lead with fifteen minutes remaining and he repeated the trick on 49 minutes and Galway were seven to the good and the two league points firmly in their back pocket for the trip home.
There was still time for Galway to add nine more points before the end of the game with Cillian Ó’Curraion adding a brace of two pointers and Walsh adding another two pointer to his personal tally as they ran out comprehensive winners.
Scorers for Galway: Shane Walsh 0-9 (2 2pt, 2 2ptf), Cillian Ó Curraoin 0-8 (1 2pt, 2 2ptf, 1f), Paul Conroy 0-3, Seán Kelly 0-2, Rob Finnerty 0-2 (2fs), Dylan McHugh 0-1 and Connor Gleeson 0-1 (45)
Scorers for Mayo: Paul Towey 0-5 (1 2pt), Ryan O’Donoghue 0-3 (3fs), Davitt Neary 0-3, Conor Reid 0-2, Sean Morahan 0-1, Donnacha McHugh 0-1, and Frank Irwin 0-1.
Galway: Connor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Séan Fitzgerald, Daniel O’Flaherty; Dylan McHugh, Liam Silke, Séan Kelly, Paul Conroy, Cillian McDaid; John Maher, Finnian Ó’Laoí, Céin Darcy; Cillian Ó’Curraoin; Shane Walsh, Sam O’Neill.
Subs: Jack Glynn for Sean Kelly, Robert Finnerty for Sam O’Neill, Cathal Sweeney for Cillian McDaid, Johnny Heaney for Finnian Ó’Laoi, Colm Costello for Shane Walsh
Mayo: Colm Reape; Sam Callinan, Rory Brickenden, Enda Hession; Stephen Coen, David McBrien, Seán Morahan; Donnacha McHugh, Matthew Ruane; Conor Reid, Fergal Boland, Davitt Neary; Paul Towey, Frank Irwin, Ryan O’Donoghue.
Subs: Darren MacHale for Fergal Boland, Diarmuid O’Connor for Conor Reid, Eoghan McLaughlin for Matthew Ruane, Bob Tuohy for Diarmuid O’Connor, Cian McHale for Frank Irwin.
Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan).
Our Senior Footballers make the trip to Castlebar on Sunday to face Mayo in Round 2 of the Allianz Football League:
Sunday February 2nd 2025
Hastings Insurance MacHale Park
2.30pm
Commentary on Galway Bay FM, and RnaG Spórt
Live score updates via WhatstheScor App
Watch Live on TG4
Buy Match Tickets online and in selected Centra and SuperValu stores⬇️⬇️
https://am.ticketmaster.com/gaa/buy/25HM0202
Best of Luck to Pádraic Joyce, Team Management and our Senior Football squad on Sunday
By Cian O’Connell
“It has been football since day one, nothing else,” Feargal Ó Sé says about growing up in a famous Connemara sporting family.
The links with An Cheathrú Rua’s glory days in the 90s when Galway SFC glory was earned are strong with his Dad and uncles influential figures in that triumph.
Ó Sé has heard the stories about the games, and the memories that matter in the Gaeltacht club. “Dad was on the team, and I had four uncles – Ronan, Edward, Peter, and Jarlath, who were all playing on the same team together,” he says.
“They’d a great bond, and they proved that they could do it, winning a county final, and were unlucky not to go further, really.”
In the intervening decades An Cheathrú Rua, Galway standard bearers in 1996, continued to operate in the top tier until two recent relegations in 2022 and 2023 ensured a return to the junior grade.
An Cheathrú Rua responded. “I suppose, we just knew we had to make a change, really,” Ó Sé responds.
“After all of the losses, it was make or break. You’ve to change the momentum, where it was going, we knew we had to make a change, and that is what we did.”
An Cheathrú Rua forward Éanna MacCormaic. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Galway and Connacht glory has been secured with a trip to Croke Park on Saturday for an AIB All-Ireland Club JFC Final with Naomh Pádraig imminent. Suddenly, there is hope in An Cheathrú Rua hearts again. “There is a good buzz around the town, there is a real sense of community around the place,” he says.
Emerging players are beginning to contribute and that is one of the chief reasons An Cheathrú Rua people are optimistic about their local outfit again. “It has been big, especially the young lads that are coming through, they’ve been in a few county finals,” Ó Sé reflects.
“Obviously, it shows, they’ve come through putting their name forward to start. I haven’t been in many county finals at underage and there isn’t many left from the teams I played with that are left playing now.
“It is more so for the younger lads coming through this year, you can see they’ve the experience of winning and getting to finals. It has really helped us along.”
Some of the An Cheathrú Rua panel will be playing football at GAA headquarters on Saturday and back at school early next week. “We’ve Fionnan (Ó Conghaile), Maitiú (Ó Domhnaill), Sean, all the young lads that are still in school.
“They’ve been a big help to the team, we’ve come a long way, and they’re really standing up, doing their part for the team.”
Tá an scéal seo díreach ag tosnú.
Click here to listen to an interview as Gaeilge with An Cheathrú Rua’s Feargal Ó Sé.
The GAA can confirm the AIB All-Ireland Club JFC Final fixture.
Saturday January 25
AIB All-Ireland Club JFC Final
An Cheathrú Rua v Naomh Pádraig, Muff, Croke Park, 3.10pm, TG4
Referee: TBC
(E.T & Winner on the Day)
The game will be part of a triple header along with the Allianz Hurling League Division 1B encounter, Dublin v Antrim (5.15pm), and Allianz Football League Division One game, Dublin v Mayo (7.30pm).
