Allianz Football League Division Two
Galway 5-15 Derry 2-15
DERRY surrendered a two-goal lead and ended up suffering a nine-point defeat to Galway at Tuam Stadium, leaving Damian Barton’s side in need of points from their remaining games to ensure their Division Two status.
“This league is crazy,” said Barton. “If we had won today we would probably have gone third. You come out every day to win matches and we need to win our last two matches.”
Barton hopes his side’s efforts will be aided by the return of the Slaughtneil players after their All-Ireland club final loss to Dr Croke’s on St Patrick’s Day.
“I hope so but I couldn’t honestly say [if the Slaughtneil players will be available].
“There’s no consolation in defeat. For me, I’d prefer to get back up on the bike again. There are three awesome defenders to come back.
“Obviously I’m not taking from the young cubs today. We had a U21 full-back line today. It’s a steep learning curve and it’s a harsh lesson to learn when you concede five goals.”
Derry opened the scoring in Tuam through James Kielt after three minutes but Galway went up the other end and bagged their first goal. The impressive Michael Daly did well in the build up and he found Danny Cummins, who fisted past Thomas Mallon to give Galway the dream start. A point from Daly left Derry trailing 1-1 to 0-1 after nine minutes.
Niall Loughlin finished the game with five points and he opened his account on 10 minutes with an effort from play.
Galway wing-back Johnny Heaney pointed in the 16th minute to give Galway a 1-5 to 0-4 lead.
The comfortable margin didn’t last long, though, as Derry hit their stride. Loughlin, Benny Heron and Kielt all raised white flags before Heron got the first of Derry’s goals on 23 minutes. Emmett McGuckin saw his shot brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar by Galway goalkeeper Rory Lavelle but Heron was on hand to fist in the rebound.
Two more points from the excellent Loughlin gave Derry a 1-9 to 1-5 lead. On 29 minutes, Galway were awarded a penalty after Niall Keenan was pinged for a foot block. McHugh stepped up for the hosts but Mallon produced a great save to deny the Mountbellew/Moylough man.
Having been denied earlier by Lavelle, McGuckin eventually got his goal in the 34th minute. The Magherafelt man fisted the ball to the net to give open up a six-point lead going into half time. But Tom Flynn popped up with a vital goal for the home side as he arrowed the ball past Mallon meaning Galway trailed by just three points at the interval.
Kielt got the ball rolling for Derry after half-time as he pointed a free but Galway roared back. With the wind behind them for the second half, Galway kicked four unanswered points after the interval.
Daly (0-2) and Eamonn Brannigan brought Galway within a point of Derry before Flynn kicked the equalising point on 44 minutes to make it 2-11 apiece.
The visitors responded with three points of their own to re-establish their lead. Kielt, Carlus McWilliams and Danny Tallon notched a point each to give Derry a three point cushion. Gary O’Donnell and Brannigan replied for Galway to narrow the gap to just a point before Johnny Heaney struck a crucial goal on the hour mark to edge Galway two ahead.
Benny Heron’s point two minutes later left just a point between the sides but it was all Galway after that. Oisin Hegarty got his marching orders from referee Rory Hickey in the 64th minute as he brought Michael Daly down for a penalty.
Hegarty was shown a black card and having been already yellow carded, Derry found themselves down to 14 men. Brannigan dispatched the penalty to the net for Galway’s fourth goal and substitute Shane Walsh added a fifth goal to put the result beyond doubt.
Further points from Walsh and Brannigan added gloss to the scoreline as Kevin Walsh’s men looked to end the game on a high. McGuckin had an opportunity to reduce the deficit with the last kick of the game but his penalty was well saved by Lavelle.
Galway: R Lavelle; L Burke, D Walsh, C Sweeney; G O’Donnell (0-1), G Bradshaw, J Heaney (1-1); P Conroy, F Ó Curraoin; G Sice (0-2, 0-1 free), T Flynn (1-1), E Brannigan (1-3, 1-0 pen); D Cummins (1-1), M Daly (0-3), B McHugh (0-2, 0-1 45)
Subs: S Walsh (1-1) for Cummins (50), M Lundy for Sice (55), M Farragher for Bradshaw (57), L Silke for Heaney (70), F Hanley for Burke (72), E Tierney for Conroy (74).
Derry: T Mallon; C McGrogan, C Nevin, N Keenan; M McEvoy, M Craig, N Forester; C McAtamney, J Kielt (0-5, 0-3 frees); D Tallon (0-1), B Heron (1-2), C McWilliams (0-1); E Lynn (0-1), E McGuckin (1-0), N Loughlin (0-5, 0-2 frees, 0-1 45)
Subs: O Hegarty for McGrogan (20), R Bell for Loughlin (50), C Kielt for Nevin (50), P Hagan for Tallon (66)
Black cards: Hegarty, not replaced (64), McAtamney, replaced by J Rocks (69)
Yellow cards: O Hegarty (45), E McGuckin (47); Red card: O Hegarty (64)
Referee: R Hickey (Clare)
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