Galway have a great supply of reserve talent as was evident at Ballinasloe yesterday when their four teenage debutants played a major role in trouncing Roscommon in their opening game of the National Football League. It was no wonder Galway's manager John O'Mahony was satisfied with his newcomers afterwards when he said they had vindicated their selection. He singled out former minors Joe Bergin and Kieran Comer for special mention and described full forward Padraig Joyce's display as "just fantastic". Both Bergin and Comer played like veterans, with Comer kicking the first of his three points after only 20 seconds. He had a major influence on the attack and linked up well with a devastating full forward line of Joyce, Donnellan and Finnegan.
Joyce really emerged as man of the match with a blistering goal four minutes into the second half.
The home side were four points up inside 13 minutes before Enda Lohan saw his kick at goal bounce over the advancing Padraig Lally and rebound off the crossbar to grateful Galway corner back Damien Mitchell.
Galway scored again before Roscommon registered points through Frankie Dolan and Eddie Lohan after 20 minutes. Two minutes later the sides were level when Stephen Lohan collected from his brother Gerry and left footed the ball for Roscommon's only goal. Despite Galway's dominance and the hesitant attacking of Roscommon, the sides were level, but this only seemed to inject a greater purpose into the home side. Galway kicked six points with the only reply coming from Derek Duggan in the final 12 minutes of the opening half to lead by 0-11 to 1-3 at the interval.
Only four minutes of the second half had gone when Joyce got that all-important Galway goal following a movement started by Donnellan by Finnegan.
Three Roscommon points gave new heart to a weary and frustrated Gay Sheerin outfit, but the fightback was only temporary as Galway again showed their superiority with a flurry of three points.
GALWAY: P Lally; T Meehan, D Mitchell, R Fahey; D Meehan (0-1), J Divilly, T Joyce; J Bergin (0-2), S O Domhnaill; P Clancy (0-2), J Comer (0-3), L Colleran; J Donnellan (0-2); P Joyce (1-4), N Finnegan (0-1). Subs: M Colleran for L Colleran, K Donlon for D Mitchell.
ROSCOMMON: D Thompson; D Gavin, J Whyte, E Gavin; D Donlon, C McDonald, B Mannion; S Lohan (1-1), J Gilhooly; C Connelly (0-1), D Duggan (0-3), E Lohan (0-1); N Dineen, G Lohan, F Dolan (0-1). Subs: B Burke for McDonald, S Casey (0-1) for G Lohan, R O'Callaghan for Mannion, D Cassidy for Dolan, R Owens for Donlon.
Referee: S Prior (Leitrim).
