Clinical Galway prove too strong for Leitrim in The Dome

It might have been a game of two halves for Leitrim in the opening round of the FBD Insurance Connacht League on Friday evening last but the big lesson of the night was the immense talent and power at the hands of provincial champions Galway who eased their way to a 14 point victory over Andy Moran’s side, 3-21 to 1-13.

Leitrim produced a much improved second half display with the Tribesmen edging the half by a solitary point, 1-9 to 1-8, but the damage was done in the first half as Padraic Joyce’s team registered just one wide as they tore the Green & Gold to pieces in methodical fashion.

The pace of movement of the All-Ireland finalists is not something that Leitrim will come up against too often in Division 4 this year but this was a real eye opener as a Galway side who started just five of their All-Ireland winning team were simply too fast and too strong in most sectors of the field.

All but one of Leitrim’s five first half points came from placed balls as they struggled to mount meaningful pressure on the Galway defence. That situation improved in the second half but the heat was definitely gone from the contest as Galway used nine subs in the second period.

Credit Leitrim for their refusal to back down in the second half as they tried to carry the game to Galway, a goal from debutant Barry McNulty the high point after a brilliant Jack Heslin run saw his initial shot parried.

But there was always a sense that Galway were doing just enough to hold Leitrim off and it was instructive that after Leitrim hit 1-2 in the first seven minutes of the second half, Galway replied with three unanswered points and generally kept Leitrim at arms length.

Still it was a very useful outing that saw first ever appearances in a Leitrim senior jersey for McNulty, Adam Reynolds, Stephen McLoughlin, Michael McKiernan and Dublin recruit Tom Quinn, son of former Leitrim and Aughawillan keeper Thomas.

Barry McHugh’s first minute free was answered by a Keith Beirne mark but the tone of the game was set early as Rob Finnerty and corner-back Johnny McGrath both fired over points.

The vision of the returned Corofin star Ian Burke was key to Rob Finnerty’s first goal, Burke dropping a sideline ball over two Leitrim defenders into the hands of Finnerty and the Galway man made no mistake from close range on seven minutes

Finnerty fired over from distance but if Leitrim have regrets from this game, most will centre around Jack Heslin’s goal chance, brilliantly saved by Bernard Power after a superb mark and quick free from Keith Beirne freed the Gortletteragh man on 11 minutes.

Blood sub Evan Murphy fired over a point with Beirne replying from a free but the points continued to flow for Galway with Daniel Flaherty, Burke, Finnerty, Johnny Heaney (mark) all on target with a solitary Beirne free in response.

Darragh Rooney became Leitrim’s first scorer from play after 26 minus but three Finnerty points more than matched another Beirne free and as the game was heading into the break, Galway pounced for a second goal, Finnerty intercepting the ball before Ian Burke forced the ball across the line for a real killer blow to Leitrim's faint hopes at that stage.

That left Galway with a staggering 2-12 to 0-5 halftime lead and they responded by replacing Cillian McDaid at the break. Paul Keaney’s mark was the first score of the second half, quickly matched by a point from Galway sub Tomo Culhane on two minutes.

Leitrim found the net four minutes in - a blistering Jack Heslin run saw him charge forward 40 metres but his shot was saved by Power only for it to break to Barry McNulty who forced the ball into the net from close range.

Keith Beirne converted a free after a Galway defender was penalised for a throw but Galway responded with points from Cathal Sweeney, Matthew Tierney (free) & Finnerty (free) before Beirne converted two placed balls of his own.

With multiple subs from both teams coming on, the game was becoming fractured with sub Brian Mannion firing over for Galway with Keaney & Beirne (free) replying for Leitrim.

Galway got their third goal from the penalty spot after Brian Mannion was barged over by Domhnaill Flynn just as he was about to finish off an incisive Galway move, Finnerty easily converting the free on 60 minutes.

Beirne converted a free immediately after Galway finished the rest of the game the strongest with points from subs Paul Conroy, Dylan Canney, Nathan Grainger and Culhane with a fine Beirne point in response.

Main Man
Rob Finnerty may be the third man in Galway's stellar attacking line-up but he was the standout performer last Friday evening. Ian Burke, Billy Mannion, John Maher, Johnny McGrath and Sean Fitzgerald all impressed for the Tribesmen.
For Leitrim, Keith Beirne was again the cutting edge while Jack Heslin's pace and skill on the ball is potentially a potent weapon while Darragh Rooney got on a lot of ball. Friday was tough going for a lot of Leitrim players but they stuck at it and five debuts on the evening make it a solid evening's work for Leitrim ahead of the Allianz League.

Talking Point
Even at this early stage, Galway look to have taken a major step forward in class, resources, depth and most especially hunger - again reinforcing what an extended run in the championship does not only for a team's conditioning but its attitude. Leitrim won't meet a team of this calibre unless they get to the Connacht Final but an extended run deep into the Summer could do wonders for Andy Moran's side long term

Turning Point
Some might say it is clutching at straws given the final scoreline but you wonder what might have been had Jack Heslin's shot not been parried to safety by Galway keeper Bernard Power in the first half - a Leitrim goal would have cut Galway's lead in half and given the Green & Gold something to cling to

Ref Watch
Roscommon's Aaron Clogher had a trouble free outing as, despite the blistering pace of the game, there was nothing of any real controversy for him to adjudicate on

Highlight
The surging runs of Jack Heslin were a feature throughout the game as the Gortletteragh's man pace was utilised to great effect

Lowlight
Galway's ruthless finishing in the first half reduced this game to a procession as Leitrim looked badly off the pace

What's Next
Leitrim face Waterford in the opening round of the Allianz NFL Division 4 campaign on Sunday January 29, while Galway take on Mayo in the FBD Semi-Final next Saturday, just two weeks before they meet again in the first round of the League.

LEITRIM
Scorers: Keith Beirne 0-10, 7f, 2M, Barry McNulty 1-0,Paul Keaney 0-2, 1M; Darragh Rooney 0-1
Team: Nevin O’Donnell (Shannon Gaels); Adam Reynolds (St Mary’s Kiltoghert); Donal Casey (Leitrim Gaels); Conor Reynolds (Annaduff); Shane Quinn (Mohill); Conor Farrell (St Mary’s Kiltoghert); Riordan O’Rourke (Fenagh St Caillins); Paul Keaney (St Mary’s Kiltoghert); Donal Wrynn (Fenagh St Caillins); Darragh Rooney (St Jude’s); Jack Heslin (Gortletteragh); Aiden Flynn (Leitrim Gaels); Oisin McLoughlin (Fenagh St Caillins); Keith Beirne (Mohill); Evan Sweeney (Glencar Manorhamilton). Subs: Cillian McGloin (Melvin Gaels) for Farrell (blood 10-15); Barry McNulty (Glencar Manorhamilton) & Domhnaill Flynn for McLoughlin & Quinn (HT); Tom Quinn (Castleknock) for A Reynolds (43); McGloin for Farrell (43); Michael McKiernan (Ballinamore Sean O’Heslin’s) for Sweeney (51); Stephen McLoughlin (Kiltubrid) for C Reynolds (67)

GALWAY
Scorers: Rob Finnerty 2-7, 1 pen, 2f, 1M, Ian Burke 1-1, Tomo Culhane 0-2, 1f; J McGrath, D Flaherty, Cathal Sweeney, Matthew Tierney (f), Johnny Heaney (M), Barry McHugh (f), Paul Conroy, Evan Murphy, Dylan Canney, Brian Mannion & Nathan Grainger 0-1 each
Team: Bernard Power, Johnny McGrath, Sean Fitzgerald, James Foley, Dylan McHugh, Billy Mannion; Daniel Flaherty; John Maher; Cillian McDaid; Cathal Sweeney; Matthew Tierney; Johnny Heaney; Ian Burke; Rob Finnerty; Barry McHugh. Subs: Evan Murphy for Heaney (blood 10-17); Matthew Barrett & Tomo Culhane for McDaid & McHugh (HT); Murphy for Flaherty (43); Jack Kirrane & Brian Mannion for Foley & Burke (50); Paul Conroy & Dylan Canney for Tierney & Heaney (53); Darragh Varley & Tadhg O’Malley for Billy Mannion & Power (55); Nathan Grainger for Finnerty (63)

Referee: Aaron Clogher (Roscommon)