News Archive

Galway Men's Team maintain their 100% record

21 October 2008

In Munster Division Two, Galway Mens team hosted Cork Harlequins C in Dangan on Sunday last. The Mens team were looking to maintain their 100% start to their season and to keep their promotion push on track. The game was dominated by Galway throughout and the home side held the majority of the possession. The first half saw Fergal Keaveney and Barney Gaughan take control of the midfield exchanges which they dictated for much of the game. The good early pressure led to a succession of short corners which Galway failed to convert though. Numerous other chances from play went a begging as Galway failed to put Harlequins to the sword early on. Galway's defence was shaky in the first half but coped with the little pressure that Quins applied from the long ball. Mark O'Connor was moved from left-mid back to his usual centre back role to shore up the nervy Galway defence, while Dave Kennedy was a revelation on the left side of midfield playing well from that point on. Galway went into half-time clearly the more unhappy side with the nil all scoreline. The guys knew that the game was there for the taking and fresh from their half-time talk went out with renewed vigour.

The second was much like the first with Galway on top in the possession stakes. Galway had an abundance of short corners again in the second half. The experienced contingent of the Quins defence held the home side at bay. Galway were rewarded for their pressure about 10 minutes into the second half when Fergal Keaveny slipped the ball cleverly to Darragh Curley who duly obliged with the finish. The lead lasted all of five minutes with a defensive cock up to blame. The ball wasn't cleared with any urgency, possession was given away cheaply and Arthur Leonwiscz was left with no chance in the Galway goal. At 1-1 Galway had been the architects of their own demise and it looked as if this game would have been akin to the spurned opportunities of seasons past. As Galway pushed for the winner they left gaping holes in their defence which suited the Quins long ball and counter attack. Arthur Leonowicz in the Galway goal was called upon a few times in the half and pulled out some top drawer saves. Galway were still on top in the midfield at this stage and won yet another short corner. Keaveny slipped the ball to the Galway skipper Dave Wall, "skip" dawdled for a moment but then pushed a low shot to the corner past the Quins keeper. Galway soon doubled their advantage from a short corner with a powerful straight shot from Barney Gaughan crashing against the backboard. It was a hard fought 3-1 victory with young Leonwiscz in goal with his second Man of the Match performance in a row making some great saves at vital moments in the match. Galway now sit on top of Munster Division 2 with 9 points and a healthy goal difference of +9. The Men's team are now eying up their round 2 Irish Trophy outing 15th of November . Their next Munster League game is at home to Belvedere a day later on 16th of November. With most of the Galway side set to be representing NUIG this weekend at the Intervarsities in Kilkenny its due to be a busy few weeks for the lads.

Results in Division 2:

Galway 3 (D Curley , D Wall, B Gaughan) Cork Harlequins C 1