Galway take advantage of late reprieve to defeat Roscommon after extra-time in Connacht U-21 final

Galway 1-17 Roscommon 2-11

Galway finished strongly in extra-time in a thrilling final at Hyde Park. Galway struggled in the second half of normal time and were trailing by three points with three minutes remaining – Roscommon also having amassed seven wides.

However corner-forward Shane Walsh, who had an off-day with frees up to then, came to the visitors’ rescue as he kicked three points in three minutes, including a terrific equaliser from play, to send the match into extra-time.

Buoyed by their comeback, the momentum was with Galway. Walsh, Ian Burke and Garry Kelly found the target for them in the first period of extra-time while Ciarán Murtagh replied for Roscommon.

Murtagh reduced the gap to a single point but a point from Shane Maughan and two from man of the match Kelly closed out the game for Galway.

The game began in lively fashion with two goals in the opening two minutes. Cathal Mulryan’s speculative lob found the net after just 40 seconds but Roscommon were level within one minute when Donie Smith scored a marvellous individual goal. Smith’s pinpoint pass then set up Finbarr Cregg for Roscommon’s second goal on 20 minutes.

Roscommon led by two at half-time and Galway were reduced to 14 men after 36 minutes when Eoin Walsh was dismissed.

Roscommon dominated the next 15 minutes but only added two points and when Smith was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 53rd minute, the game started to drift away from them.