James Kavanagh shows early promise for Galway

Galway 3-10 Sligo 0-8

Pat Flanagan's reign as Sligo manager got off to a disappointing start when they were brushed aside by an impressive Galway side in the opening round of the FBD League at Tuam Stadium yesterday.

But with just over a month to work with his new charges it was inevitable that Flanagan’s side would struggle against the Tribesmen, but the former Westmeath manager was not despondent.

“It’s an opportunity for me and the selectors to have a look at the players and see what format we can use that will suit the players. This is our first time to see them in a competitive match.

“Obviously we would have preferred if the scoreline was more favourable on our behalf but it’s great for the boys to get out there, to get working ahead of the league campaign.”

But the real star of the show was another new boy, with former Kildare player crowning his debut for Galway with a man of the match performance.

Kavanagh, who moved to Galway over a year ago where he is based as a garda, was full of running from start to finish and Alan Mulholland was delighted with the display.

“It was a day for people to show the correct attitude, you know, the weather was bad, the underfoot conditions were very soft and James has brought that attitude to the panel in the last few weeks since we’ve gone back training,” said the Galway manager.

Gareth Bradshaw, back from his stint in the United States, also caught the eye in an impressive display where Galway full-forward Eoin Concannon struck 2-2 on a day when his St James' clubmate Paul Conroy took over the captaincy of the team.

Concannon's first goal after ten minutes helped the home side lead by 1-2 to 0-4 despite playing against the wind and rain and they wrapped up the issue with Michael Marting finding the net eleven minutes after the restart with Concannon getting his second two minutes later.

The only black card was dished out to Sligo corner-back Neil Ewing just before the break, apparently for saying something to Roscommon referee Paddy Neilan after Sligo, ironically, had been awarded a free out.

“I think he made a comment to the referee but he said he was twenty yards away from him so I don’t know. I was told you have to be extremely aggressive in a referee’s face. Neil made a comment that he has to play the ball like you know what I mean but he might have said it in a stronger tone than that but he only made the one comment,” added Flanagan.

Galway: T Healy; A Tierney (0-1), J Moore, A Tierney, E Murray; T Fahy, G Higgins, E Walsh; P Conroy, D O’Connell; G Bradshaw, M Martin (1-2, 0-1 free), M Hehir (0-2, 0-2 frees); E Hoare (0-1), E Concannon (2-2), J Kavanagh (0-1).

Subs: K McGrath for Moore (h-t), D O’Neill for Fahy (40mins), S Armstrong (0-1) for Martin (45 mins), D Cummins for Concannon (45 mins), F Hanley for Tierney (58 mins).

Sligo: V Cadden; G Gilsenan, G Ryan, N Ewing; C Harrison, L Bree, R Connolly; J Quinn, M Quinn; C Griffin, M Breheny (0-1, 0-1 free), V Frizzel (0-1, 0-1 ‘45); A Marren (0-2, 0-1 free), B O’Mahony (0-1), N Murphy.

Subs: J Kelly for Ewing (29 mins), C McGee (0-2, 0-2 frees) for Marren (43 mins), C Breheny for Frizzel (45 mins), J Hynes (0-1) for O’Mahony (55 mins), K Sweeney for Murphy (55 mins).

Referee: P Neilan (Roscommon).