Both Galway and Roscommon have announced their starting teams ahead of the Connacht GAA Senior Football Championship Final on Sunday, 10^th July 2016, in Pearse Stadium.

The Galway team is the same fifteen that lined out against Mayo and will have seven players playing in their first Connacht GAA Championship Senior Final, those players being, Bernard Power, Eoghan Kerin, Declan Kyne, David Wynne, Liam Silke, Johnny Heaney and Eamonn Brannigan. Galway who had a surprise win over many people’s fancy for the Provincial title, Mayo, in the semi-final with a 1-12 to 0-12, will be bidding for their 46^th provincial title at this grade. Galway last played in a Connacht Final in 2014, when they were beaten by Mayo and have not captured a Connacht GAA Senior Football Championship title since 2008 when they defeated Mayo by a single point in MacHale Park.

The Galway team to face Roscommon is; 1. Bernard Power (Corofin), 2. Eoghan Kerin (Annaghdown), 3. Declan Kyne (Clonbur), 4. David Wynne (Maigh Cuilinn), 5. Liam Silke (Corofin), 6. Gary O Donnell, Captain, (Tuam Stars), 7. Gareth Bradshaw (Maigh Cuilinn), 8. Paul Conroy (St. James’), 9 Thomas Flynn (Athenry), 10. Gary Sice (Corofin), 11. Damien Comer (Annaghdown), 12. Johnny Heaney (Killannin), 13. Eamonn Brannigan (St Michaels), 14. Shane Walsh (Kilkerrin-Clonberne),  15. Danny Cummins (Claregalway).

The Roscommon team announced shows three changes from their semi-final win over Sligo with Darren O’ Malley replacing Geoffrey Claffey in goals, Cathal Compton from Strokestown starts in midfield with David Keenan moving to wing forward and Enda Smith starting Full forward. Donie Shine and Senan Kilbride being the two players to lose out. Roscommon last played in a Connacht Senior Final in 2011 when they lost out to Mayo by two points in Dr. Hyde Park. Roscommon, who will be looking for their 22^nd Provincial title, last captured the Nestor cup in 2010 when they defeated Sligo by a point in MacHale park. The Primrose and Blue have 10 players playing in their first provincial final, Darren O’ Malley, Sean Mullooly, Niall McInerney, David Murray, John McManus, Niall Daly, Cathal Compton, Fintan Cregg, Ciaran Murtagh and Enda Smith will all be starting their first provincial final at Senior Grade.

The Roscommon team announced is; 1 Darren O’Malley (Michael Glaveys), 2. Sean McDermott (Western Gaels), 3. Sean Mullooly (Strokestown), 4. Niall McInerney (St Brigids), 5. David Murray (Padraig Pearses), 6. Sean Purcell (Boyle), 7. John McManus (Roscommon Gaels), 8. Niall Daly (Padraig Pearses), 9. Cathal Compton (Strokestown), 10. Fintan Cregg (Elphin), 11. Ciaran Murtagh Captain (St Faithleachs), 12. David Keenan (St Barrys), 13. Conor Devaney (Kilbride), 14. Enda Smith (Boyle), 15. Cathal Cregg (Western Gaels).

Roscommon will be looking for their first Championship win over Galway since 2001, when they defeated Galway 2-12 to 0-14 in Tuam Stadium. This Roscommon team was managed by Galway man John Tobin and featured current Roscommon joint manager Fergal O’ Donnell who lined out at midfield.

Galway have defeated Roscommon in their last six championship meetings. This includes an All Ireland Quarter Final win in 2001 in MacHale Park, avenging the provincial championship defeat earlier that year. Galway went on to capture the Sam Maguire in September.

These two teams last met in a provincial final in 1998, when Galway prevailed after a replay win in Dr Hyde Park, 1-17 to 0-17 in extra time, the goal coming from the boot of Michael Donnellan.  Galway went on to capture the All Ireland title defeating Derry and Kildare en route.

The sides have met each other on 15 occasions in Provincial deciders with Galway slightly ahead in terms of wins, 8 to 7.

One has to go all the way back to 1978 to the last time these two teams met each other in Pearse Stadium on Connacht Final day, with Roscommon defeating the Tribesmen, 2-7 to 0-9 in a game dominated by the late Dermot Earley.

These two teams first clashed in a provincial final of 1910 in a game played in Athlone on the 8^th Oct 1911, the final score being, Galway 1-3 Roscommon 1-2.

The two teams met again in the Provincial decider of 1912 with Roscommon coming out on top 0-2 to Galway’s 0-0.

These two teams met in the final of the Connacht GAA FBD League in January this year with Galway prevailing by a single point, 2-8 to 0-13. The teams and scorers on the day were;

Galway: T Dolan; D Wynne, D Kyne, E Kerin; L Silke, G O’Donnell, J Heaney (0-2); P Conroy, F O Curraoin; T Flynn (0-1), E Hoare, E Tierney; D Comer (2-1), A Varley (0-3), E Brannigan. Subs: S Walsh (0-1) for Hoare, P Mannion for Brannigan.
Roscommon: G Claffey; R Stack, T Featherston, N Collins; B Murtagh, N Daly, R Daly (0-1); E Smith, C Shine; S Oates (0-1), K Kilcline (0-1), C Murtagh (0-4); C Connolly (0-4), S Kilbride (0-02), C McHugh. Subs: S McDermott for Collins, N Kilroy for Kilcline, U Harney for Oates, F Kelly for Shine, Fintan Cregg for Murtagh.

 

CONNACHT GAA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Sunday 10^th July 2016

Pearse Stadium, Galway

Final: Connacht GAA Senior Football Championship

2pm: Galway v Roscommon

Final: Connacht GAA Minor Football Championship

12noon: Galway v Mayo