Leitrim champs exit Connacht Minor Club after strong showing against Galway sides

There was disappointment for Leitrim champions St Mary’s Kiltoghert and St Patrick’s Dromahair after they suffered defeat at the hands of Galway opponents in Friday’s FBD Connacht Minor Club Football Championship Quarter Finals at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence despite two strong displays from the Green & Gold sides.

St Mary’s Kiltoghert went down to a 1-10 to 0-9 defeat at the hands of a highly rated Michael Breathnachs of Galway in the A grade while St Patrick’s Dromahair suffered an 11 point loss to St James’ on an incredible 3-24 to 4-10 scoreline at the Mayo venue.

Up against a Michael Breathnach’s team who had tasted All-Ireland Feile glory a few years ago, St Mary’s put up a strong showing, leading by three points five minutes into the second half but a goal proved crucial for the Tribe youngsters. With just one score apiece after ten minutes, the Carrick youngsters led 0-2 to 0-1 at the midway point of the first half. Breathnach’s closed the gap to a point on 25 minutes but a strong finish left St Mary’s with a 0-6 to 0-4 halftime lead.

St Mary’s stretched the lead to three five minutes into the second half but the Galway side were level at 0-7 apiece five minutes later and they got the game’s only goal shortly after to take a 1-8 to 0-7 lead after 45 minutes. St Mary’s kept the pressure on but the Galway champions maintained that four point gap all the way to the finish as they booked their place in next Tuesday’s semi-finals.

If St Mary’s encounter was a low scoring affair, St Patrick’s Dromahair went the other way with the Leitrim lads and St James’ registering a goal each inside the first five minutes, St James leading by a point. The Galway side would add five more points to their tally by the midway point of the first half but Dromahair hit back with a second goal to leave them trailing by two points, 1-6 to 2-1.

However, the Galway champions would hit an unanswered 1-10 before the halftime interval to take a commanding 2-16 to 2-1 lead at the break. Dromahair refused to lie down and despite the Galway side adding seven points to their tally, the north Leitrim youngsters scored 1-6 to leave them trailing 2-23 to 3-7 after 45 minutes. Dromahair would add a further 1-3 to their tally to 1-1 for St James’, leaving them edging the second half 2-9 to 1-8.