Connacht SF League Second Round/Galway 0-9 Leitrim 1-4: The dismissal of Galway captain Pádraic Joyce for striking in the 55th minute proved to be the only drama in a dour match at Páirc Seán Mhic Diarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon, yesterday.

A largely experimental Galway side can thank their experienced captain for a victory as he proved inspirational following an interval switch to midfield.

Leitrim replied almost immediately to an opening Cormac Bane point with an excellent goal by Michael Foley. However, Leitrim squandered a succession of opportunities as both sides traded points in the second quarter to leave Leitrim 1-2 to 0-3 ahead at the break.

Joyce punished Leitrim with a point in the 36th minute followed by three more without reply from Alan O'Donovan, David Ward and Niall Coleman.

The introduction of Leitrim captain Christy Carroll to counter Joyce at midfield proved effective but despite the dismissal of Joyce, Galway held out

GALWAY: P Skelly; V Feeney, K Fitzgerald, R Fahey; D Marley, R Gibbons, M Comer; N Coleman (0-1), D Burke; C Bane (0-1), C Blake, D Ward(0-1); B Óg O'Callarain (0-2), P Joyce (0-3, 1 free), A O'Donovan (0-1). Subs: D Ó Carrain for D Ward, D O'Malley for C Bane.

LEITRIM: C McCrann; D Reynolds, J McKeon, C Kennedy; M Greene, B McWeeney, S Foley; G McCloskey, D Lowe; B Prior, S Canning, M Foley (1-3, 3 frees); C Duignan, D Maxwell, D McKiernan (0-1). Subs: D McHugh for M Greene, C Carroll for D Lowe, D Beck for D McKiernan, D O'Donnell for C Duignan, N Doonan for S Canning.

Referee: Charlie Collins (Mayo).