Galway 1-15 Derry 1-11:A YOUNG Galway side showed great composure to close out a well-earned victory against an out-of-sorts Derry at Celtic Park yesterday. Having seen Derry claw their way back to within a point of them with eight minutes remaining, Galway settled themselves and four coolly-taken scores from Michael Martin, Cathal Kenny and Nicholas Joyce (two) clinched two somewhat unexpected league points.
Galway laid the ground work for the win in the first half. Having trailed by 1-3 to 0-3 after Cailean O’Boyle’s fisted Derry goal on 17 minutes Alan Mulholland’s side dominated the second quarter, during which they outscored Derry by 1-5 to 0-1.
Through this spell the Derry defence was run ragged, with Galway wing backs Gareth Bradshaw and Gary O’Donnell raiding forward to open up gaps.
Points from the excellent Micheál Martin and Mark O’Hehir had closed the gap by the time O’Donnell fed Bradshaw to step inside Derry goalkeeper Danny Devlin and blast home on 29 minutes.
With Nicky Joyce finding the range that would bring him five points over the 70 minutes and Bradshaw and Martin again raising the white flag, Galway led by 1-8 to 0-4 at the break.
Derry enjoyed probably their best spell after the break as scores from Mark Lynch and Chrissy McKaigue closed the gap.
With O’Boyle giving Galway’s Finian Hanley a tough time under the high ball Derry battled back, as goalkeeper Devlin slotted over a 45 and O’Boyle kicked three points (two frees).
Joyce (two) and a Hehir free kept Galway just in front but the momentum looked to have swung Derry’s favour as they closed the margin to 1-10 to 1-11. But with Joe Bergin providing an injection of experience from the bench Galway showed the composure of veterans.
Those four late points in response to a single Paddy Bradley free allowed them to claim two hard-earned points and take a massive first step back on what may be the road back to Division One.
GALWAY: M Breathnach; C Forde, F Hanley, K Kelly; G Bradshaw (1-1), J Duane, G O’Donnell; T O’Flynn, F Ó Curraoin; J Ryan, P Conroy, M Hehir (0-3, frees); M Martin (0-5, 0-2 frees), N Joyce (0-5, 0-1 free), D Cummins. Subs: G Sice for Ryan (half-time), J Bergin for Hehir), C Kenny (0-1) for Conroy (both 58 mins).
DERRY: D Devlin (0-1, 45); B McCallion, L Morrow, R Dillon; C McKaigue (0-1), M Craig, SL McGoldrick; J Conway, J Diver; B McGoldrick (0-1), M Lynch (0-1), M Bateson; C O’Boyle (1-4, 0-3 frees), Paddy Bradley (0-1, free), C Gilligan (0-2, 0-1 free). Subs: C Kielt for B McGoldrick (21 mins), B Doyle for Craig (29 mins), C Murray for Dillon (half-time), E Lynn for Gilligan (42 mins), PJ McCloskey for Diver (59 mins).
Referee: Marty Duffy (Sligo).
