Galway defeat Mayo to retain Nestor Cup with late winning free
Galway goalkeeper Conor Gleeson kicked a late free to win the Connacht Senior Football Championship final against Mayo on a scoreline of 0-16 to 0-15 at Pearse Stadium, Salthill, this afternoon.
In a game that swung one way and then the other, Galway – the reigning champions – scored the last three points to win a fascinating contest in their home ground.
Mayo had time for one last attack but an effort from distance by substitute Cillian O'Connor sailed wide of the posts.
Galway started with Cathal Sweeney in place of the named Shane Walsh but with Damien Comer and Rob Finnerty in sparkling form, the Kilmacud Crokes man wasn't especially missed. And yet, following his introduction towards the end of the first half, Walsh played a crucial role in Galway's win.
Mayo were slightly more wasteful than Galway in the first half but were still two points ahead (0-7 to 0-5) at the break. Ryan O'Donoghue, with three points (two frees and a mark), led the way, with Matthew Ruane, Fergal Boland, Donnacha McHugh and Tommy Conroy all scoring as well.
Finnerty scored four of Galway's five first-half points (three frees), with Comer also on target, and just seven minutes into the second half, the Tribesmen were ahead for the first time thanks to further points from Comer and Finnerty either side of a Johnny Heaney effort.
Mayo then went on a run with four points in a row as Jordan Flynn, Matthew Ruane and O'Donoghue (two, one 45') all dissected the posts to put the Green and Red three ahead again (0-11 to 0-8), but any thoughts that Galway were done and dusted at that stage would prove to be unfounded.
Once more the Tribesmen landed three in a row, Conor Gleeson landing a free before Finnerty and Walsh scored, making it a level game once more.
Then it swung again, Mayo with four of the next five points through Cillian O'Connor, O'Donoghue (free), Ruane and Conroy, while Walsh found the range for Galway.
The game was in the final minute of normal time when Conroy scored the last of that burst of points, and it proved to be Mayo's final point. With five minutes of injury time indicated, Kevin McStay's men only had a two-point buffer.
Galway showed huge hunger to go after Mayo and points from Finnerty and Walsh had them level before the late free allowed Gleeson the chance to win it, and he made the most of the opportunity.
Galway: Conor Gleeson (0-2f); Johnny McGrath, Sean Fitzgerald, Jack Glynn; Dylan McHugh, John Daly, Liam Silke; Paul Conroy, Sean Kelly; Johnny Heaney (0-1), Kieran Molloy, Cein Darcy; Robert Finnerty (0-8, 5f), Damien Comer (0-2), Cathal Sweeney.
Subs used: John Maher, Shane Walsh (0-3, 1f), Matthew Tierney, Sean Mulkerrin, Daniel O'Flaherty.
Mayo: Colm Boyle; Jack Coyne, Rory Brickenden, Sam Callinan; Eoghan McLaughlin, David McBrien, Donnacha McHugh (0-1); Stephen Coen, Matthew Ruane (0-3); Jordan Flynn (0-1), Fergal Boland (0-1), Jack Carney; Aidan O'Shea, Tommy Conroy (0-2), Ryan O'Donoghue (0-6, 3f, 1m 1 45').
Subs used: Diarmuid O'Connor, Cillian O'Connor (0-1), Enda Hession, Conor Loftus, Bob Tuohy.
Referee: David Gough (Meath).