All-Ireland Football Final Galway V Kildare
Thirty seven juveniles with some parents travelled by bus to Croke Park and from the Nally Stand saw Galway qualify for the All-Ireland final with a great win over Derry. The trip was organised by the Juvenile Football Committee. So, Galway followers are now on the run-up to the most exciting prospects for a generation. It’s time to put up the flags and a few along the N17 would add a bit of colour to the Celtic Tiger’s enveloping leap forward.
Meanwhile our Junior As have qualified for the West Board final, U21s under P.J.McGovern and Fergus Madden are preparing for the Championship while Minors and U16s were edged out in close games played out with traditional fervour.
Junior ‘A’
- Round 1 at Carnmore
Claregalway 1–12
Oranmore 1–9 - Round 2 at Cregg
Claregalway 0–10
Mervue/Renmore 0–8 - Round 3 at Headford
Claregalway 1–19
Clonbur 0–3
After a close game against Oranmore, we made hard work of beating Mervue/Renmore. Both teams played their best football against the strong wind—Claregalway in the first half and we were in arrears by only 3 points at the interval. On the re-start, scores were very slow to come but gradually U21 players Anthony Monaghan, Adrian Moran, Niall McGovern and Derek Murray came more into the game and dominated the last 10 minutes to engineer the winning points. Barry Donovan in goal, Shane Walsh and Gerry Madden in the backs were always to the fore. Our third point from Enda Devitt after a great up-field run by Padraig O’Connell was the best score of the match.
Team: Barry Donovan, Noel Grealish, Shane Walsh, Gerry Madden, Padraig O’Connell, Mickey Grealish, Rory Kenny, Paul Concannon, Anthony Monaghan (4 pts, frees), Enda O’Connell (1 pt, free), Adrian Moran (3 pts), Niall McGovern, Derek Murray (1pt), Enda Devitt (1 pt), Kevin McNamara. Sub: James Concannon for E.Devitt.
The game against Clonbur had little merit as a championship match and it was as good as over after 10 minutes when we led by 1–5 to 0–0. We now meet the winners of Ml.Breathnach and Carraroe.
Junior ‘B’
Mervue/Renmore 1–7
Claregalway 1–5
at Cregg
After looking likely winners for the most of the game, we lost out when Mervue/Renmore scored 2 late points. Their first minute goal proved decisive in the end. Although John O’Hagan drove a 45 all the way to the net, we spurned a number of scoring chances afterwards.
Team: Gerry Starken, Joe O’Connell, Damien Noonan, Joe Arkins, Frank O’Connell, Michael Prendergast, Danny O’Connell, George Fox (0–1), Michael Walshe (0–1), Michael ‘Hiker’ Walshe, Derek Long (0–1), Cormac Evans, John O’Hagan (1–1), Kevin Concannon, Damien Stephens (0–1). Subs: Eoin Hynes for D.O’Connell, J.P.O’Connell for C.Evans.
Minor ‘A’
Carraroe 3–7
Claregalway 3–6
at Inverin
Inverin proved to be our graveyard once again when our minors were very unlucky to lose this championship match played on July 22nd. In a fast and spirited contest, a soft goal for Carraroe late in the game turned the tide in their favour and although Claregalway fought back with 2 goal points the whistle came too soon for the equaliser.
Team: Joe Kelly, Robert Lennon, Damien Noonan, Gary Dillon, Ronan Glynn, Shane Hynes, Anthony Davoren, Keith Holland, Derek Murphy, Enda O’Connell, Derek Murray, Nicholas Fox, Eamonn O’Connell, Patrick Walsh, Liam Hyland.
U16 Co. League Semi-Final
Oranmore 2–13
Claregalway 4–4
at Maree
Claregalway qualified with Oranmore, St.Michaels and Salthill for the semi-finals. In a game of swinging fortunes we gave our best display to date against a highly rated Oranmore team fancied to go all the way. With newcomers Joe Garrett and Val Baines fitting in well, we took a 2–3 to 0–1 lead after 20 minutes. Although Oranmore responded with 1–2 we led at half time by 5 points. Oranmore dominated on the re-start, scored a succession of points and with everything going right for them, took a 3 point lead. A fine goal by Gary Dillon tied the scores again with 10 minutes to go. Oranmore then took a 5 point lead but they were pegged back to a precarious 2 points when Colin Deeny scored his second goal. But Oranmore were not to be denied and finished up with a late point. Tomás Moran excelled at centre back.
Team: Paul Kilgannon, Andrew Flanagan, David Raftery, Joe Garrett, Robert Raftery, Tomás Moran, Colin Smith, Gary Dillon (1–0), Anthony Watson, Aidan Kearney, David Walsh (0–2), Martin Kelly, Colin Deeny (2–0), Val Baines, Barry Cullinane (1–1).
U15 City League Fixtures
- Round 1 Saturday Sept.5th Claregalway V Moycullen at home
- Round 2 Saturday Sept.12th Claregalway V Mervue at home
- Round 3 Saturday Sept. 19th St.Michaels V Claregalway at Westside
- Round 4 Saturday Sept. 26th Claregalway V Oranmore at home
- Round 5 Saturday Oct. 3rd Salthill V Claregalway at The Prairie
(All games at 5 pm)
U12 County League Fixtures
- Round 1 Sunday Sept. 6th Claregalway V Moycullen at home
- Round 2 Sunday Sept. 13th Oranmore V Claregalway at Oranmore
- Round 3 Sunday Sept. 20th Claregalway V St.Michaels at home
- Round 4 Sunday Sept. 27th Salthill V Claregalway at The Prairie
(All games at 11 am)
U13 City League starts on Sunday October 11th when we play Barna in Barna.
U12s & U10s travelled to Headford on Sunday August 16 for 2 games against the home club.
Castlebar Mitchel’s Tournament: U10s travelled to Castlebar on Saturday September 5 to participate in the Inter-county Blitz.
Anthony Hughes played with the Co.Galway Cumann na mBunscoil selection before the Galway V Leitrim Connacht Championship in Carrick-on-Shannon.
Inter-Schools Football Blitz was played on June 10th. Claregalway, Bawnmore, Carnmore, Lackagh and Coolarne Schools participated; Bawnmore School won out. Thanks to Joe Kyne for generous sponsorship.
Seán Ó Flannagáin
