GAA Roundup Mayo, Galway reach final

By Mark Jones

DUBLIN — As this stop-start campaign draws to its close, Mayo and Galway have proved that the West is most definitely awake by qualifying for Sunday’s National Football League final. Meanwhile, in the Div. 2 decider, Cork will take on Westmeath.

Mayo 0-16, Roscommon 1-10

Mayo reached their first final since 1978 by beating Roscommon at Markievicz Park. Success for Crossmolina in the All Ireland club championship and the under 21’s qualification for the All-Ireland decider have already signaled good days ahead for the county, but now there is a real chance that Mayo will clinch another national title.

Even if Mayo’s victory was largely prompted by their substitutes –remarkably eight of the 16 points came from off the bench — this strength in depth will have heartened manager Pat Holmes, whose day was only marred by the sending off of Colm McManamon for a second bookable offense. However, McManamon will be available to face Galway.

Maurice Sheridan and Michael Moyles, who were introduced by Holmes during the first half, each scored three points, while David Nestor, who also came on early in the game, added two. The changes were spawned by a lackluster performance up until the interval as Stephen Lohan and Nigel Dineen caused problems in the Mayo defense.

In fact, Roscommon were in front until the 50th minute, at which stage they led by 1-9 to 0-8. An early goal by Lohan and some good support work from Dineen and Conor Connelly gave Roscommon the upper hand, but they were hit by a double blow when both center forward John Hanley and influential defender Clifford McDonald left with injuries before the break.

"That was crucial," said manager John Tobin. "Those injuries didn’t help, but there’ll be another day in us, make no mistake about that."

Gradually, Mayo took control of the game and, significantly, they scored eight points to Roscommon’s one in the final 18 minutes. With David Brady in excellent form at midfield, there were also important contributions from Fergal Costelloe, James Gill, Noel Connelly and McManamon before he was sent off.

Galway 2-12, Sligo 0-11

It was easier for Galway in last Saturday’s other semifinal at Hyde Park. Once again, it took the favorites some time to get into their stride and it was Sligo who looked the more impressive combination for much of the first half. But as soon as Galway clicked, last year’s beaten All-Ireland finalists looked a class apart.

An early penalty by Derek Savage, after goalkeeper Peter Walsh had fouled Lorcan Colleran, kept Galway in the hunt, but the collective talents of Dessie Sloyan, Paul Taylor, Gerry McGowan, Ken Killeen and John McPartland meant that Sligo were the dominant force. However, Galway changed gear coming up to the interval and leveled matters at 1-4 to 0-7.

"We were lucky to level at halftime," admitted manager John O’Mahony. "We’d been playing in patches and we were quite lethargic." Most of all, Michael Donnellan was responsible for shaking off that lethargy as he set about dismantling Sligo after the changeover. Popping up all over the pitch, he created his usual brand of havoc, scoring two points and making chances for his colleagues.

A second Galway goal, driven in by Matthew Clancy following a perceptive ball by Padraic Joyce, effectively killed the game off and in the closing stages the winners looked majestic. "When we win, people think we’re going to win everything," said O’Mahony, "but we’ve not played well in the league." That sort of talk can only mean the championship is around the corner.

Cork Cork 1-12, Kildare 1-11

Cork won through to meet Westmeath in the Div. 2 decider, beating Kildare at Nenagh. Cork should really have had the game wrapped up earlier, but they had to fight off a staunch Kildare comeback toward the end.

Owen Sexton had the winner’s goal, while Aidan Dorgan kicked four points from play. Kildare’s goal came from substitute Karl O’Dwyer and Padraig Brennan landed five points, including two frees. In fact, Kildare could have drawn level in the dying seconds when referee Gerry Lynch waved away what looked like a foul on Dermot Earley just 35 yards from the posts.

Westmeath 0-20, Down 2-5

If the second Div. 2 semifinal result wasn’t quite a shock, the margin of Westmeath’s victory in Navan certainly was. The losing manager, Pete McGrath, was full of praise for the opposition. "Their power, fitness and combined play were too much for us," he said. "They had a lot more ideas."

With Joe Fallon and Ger Heavin sharing the freetaking and coming up with 11 points between them, Westmeath were always in control despite two fine goals by Down’s Michael Walsh.

Hurling

Kilkenny 0-19, Wexford 0-13

It’s also close to endgame in the National Hurling League, where Galway have been drawn to meet Tipperary, and Clare will take on Kilkenny in this weekend’s semifinals. With three of the qualifiers already decided before last weekend’s matches, it was left to Kilkenny to book the remaining place and that they did with a convincing win at Nowlan Park.

Despite being without such luminaries as Denis Byrne, Charlie Carter, Henry Shefflin and D.J. Carey, Kilkenny were still too strong as Jimmy Coogan took over the freetaking duties to score a total of 10 points. Wexford were competitive, but the nearest they came to really worrying the winners was a couple of minutes from the full time when Paul Codd’s shot was brilliantly saved by James McGarry.

Other games

Elsewhere, in Div. 1B, Cork trounced Derry at Pairc Ui Chaoimh by 3-26 to 0-4, with newcomer Brian O’Keeffe hitting 3-3, and Tipperary, who had previously qualified for the last four, accounted for Laois by 1-16 to 0-13 at O’Moore Park.

With Clare and Galway already through from Div. 1A, Limerick played out a meaningless game against Meath, which the Munster county won by 1-18 to 1-16, while Dublin’s campaign of woe was hardly eased when they were crushed by Offaly by 2-22 to 0-8.

In Div. 2, the top-of-the-table clash was won by Westmeath, who defeated Kerry by 2-16 to 1-7, while Kildare moved into third place when they edged out Wicklow by 1-15 to 0-17.

In Div. 3, Fermanagh easily beat Cavan by 1-28 to 1-6 and Donegal kept their promotion hopes alive with a 5-13 to 2-10 win over Longford.