Galway 2-18 New York 0-8

Galway had a sixteen point victory over New York in the the Connacht GAA Senior Football Championship preliminary fixture. Galway who were somewhat depleted prior to the game with five players ruled out through illness which resulted in a start for Man of the Match, Damien Comer. Galway made two changes to their starting team with Eddie Hoare and Damien Comer replacing Michael Lundy and Patrick Sweeney who had fallen foul to illness, with New York also making a change with Ross Wherity being ruled out and replaced by Jason Kelly. New York made all the early running and quickly registered scores through the impressive PJ Banville before a nervous Galway had their first score through Damien Comer. As the first half developed Galway began to find their groove and had scores from Shane Walsh(3), Comer who helped himself to two points, one a belter of a ’45, two from Peadar O’ Griofa and a nice effort from Liam Silke. New York’s response was mainly through the boot of Banville and a solitary score from Gary O’ Driscoll. When they teams retired at half time Galway had a five point lead built up, going in 0-9 to 0-5 ahead.

Banville had the first score of the second half with a point but this only seemed to spur on this youthful Galway team with Shane Walsh finishing of a good move to the net. From here to the full time whistle, Galway helped themselves to a further 1-9, with Damien Comer particularly impressive at full forward. He also finished a flowing Galway move to net leaving his afternoon with a tally of 1-4. New York’s only response came from the boot of PJ Banville.

Galway now go on to meet Leitrim in the Provincial quarter final on Sunday 17th May in Carrick.

Scorers for Galway: S Walsh 1-4, D Comer 1-4 (2 ’45’), P O Griofa 0-4 (2f), S Denvir, F O Curraoin, P Conroy, D Cummins, M Martin, Silke 0-1 each

Scorers for New York: PJ Banville 0-7 (4f), JJ Matthews 0-1

GALWAY: T Healy, J Duane, F Hanley, C Sweeney, L Silke, G O’Donnell, S Denvir, F Ó Curraoin, P Conroy, G Sice, S Walsh, E Hoare, P Ó Gríofa, D Comer, D Cummins.

Subs: P Varley for Denvir, T Flynn for Conroy, M Martin for Sice, M Lundy for Hoare, A Varley for Comer. P. Naughton for C Sweeney.

NEW YORK: G Joyce, R McGinley, G McCartan, K Quinn, B Gibbons; K Scally, C Maginn, A Hope, B Connor, J Kelly, N McFeely, D Freeman, JJ Mathews, PJ Banville, G O’Driscoll.

Subs: K Moynagh for Maginn, G McCullagh for Hope, D Nation for Connor, E McPhillis for Kelly.

Referee: C Branagan (Down)