Galway Advertiser 1973/1973_09_27/GA_27091973_E1_005.pdf 

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SPOTLIGHT ON SPORT

Gallant Galway meet a Better Team
The inquests are still being held. The calm has followed the storm. Losing an AllIreland final is a terrible anti climax. Still it was heartwanting to witness the great reception for the losing team in Eyre Square last Monday. As Liam Sammon said, it is easy to welcome home the victors but so much more genuine to give a pat on the back to the losers. I was proud of Galway last Sunday and prouder still of them in Hyre Square on Monday. For !,ere were a happy bunch of i.^ds, disappointed yes, but not dejected, defeated yet hopeful, glad to have gone so far and done so well. They have to start all over again, learn from past mistakes, seeking the elusive Sam Maguire Cup. But the thoughts are now on next year. No looking back. We have failed this year but we will have another go next year. We met a better team, a great team and a sporting one in Cork. They waited a long time for this one and we don't begrudge them their glory. Comhghairdeachas 6 chroi, Corcaigh. There was a time in the first half when I thought Cork were going to annihilate us; beat us bv a cricket score. They were all over us; three men to the ball and Dinny Long rampant. He did more than anyone to break Galway's back. Unchallenged, he raced through on solo-runs, often leaving yards between him and his bewildered and less fit opponents. Then when Galway started to rally Frank Cogan literally put Morgan Hughes in his pocket while Con Hartnett and Brian Murphy cleared ball after ball with ease and skill, John Coleman effectively barred Liam Sammon's path to goal and after an early flourish Tom Naughton's threat began to wane. But more significantly, we were not prepared to be play ing second fiddle for so long at midfield. Midway through the first half we were beaten to a frazzle at midfield. Liam O'Neill really starred in this period. Cork looked home and dried. It was no longer a game. Then came Tommy Joe Gilmore's superb point after a spectacular run which left opponents floundering in his wake. What a rallying power. Galway were back in the game. But just before half time Cork got a lucky decision (so Tommy Joe Gilmore informs me) and a very valuable point off a free. Almost as valuable a score as their early goal. Almost. That goal was crippling from the start and gave Cork the con fidence they needed. We all remember the sec ond half and Galway's great fight back. No team in Ire land would have fought so well against such a wonderful

Cork team." After Tom Naughton's goal Galway had a distinct chance. But this was as near as Galway came to success. Jimmy Duggan's miss, if goaled, might have opened up the game again but that was it. Defeat was never acknowledged as Galway tried might and main to the

end. Cork had won a cherish ed title and Billy Morgan, that superb goalkeeper, with Galway blood in his veins, didn't forget the late and great 'Weeshie' Murphy in his acceptance speech. If only Galway had got closer to Cork. There was toe much leeway to make up. Jack Cosgrove, whom Gal way followers doubted would not hold Ray Cummins, im proved as the game progress ed and was flying at the end. He has all his confidence restored again. It is so easy to be critical; very easy indeed. Ungracious though to be scoring off this team, which put up such a fine show in a game very worthy of the occasion. The catching was simply superb. Cork gave us a lesson in tactics and really used all their cards in their efforts to Joyce, Sammon and Duggan (one frontal attack on the latter was clearly intended to slow him down).

But we must build from here. We need at least two big forwards. Drastic needs re quire drastic measures and I suggest by experiment that we draft either Tommy Joe Gilmore or John Dillon or both into the attack immedi ately. We have backs galore and in Joe Waldron we had our star of the day. Here is the most improved footballer in Galway. Another polished performer was Johnny Hughes while substitutes Frank Canavan and Coleen McDonagh were huge im provements on the men they replaced -- wee Coleen es pecially being very effective, winning every duel he con tested. Morgan Hughes was superb in the second half when changed to half forward --a future star. Galway's first N.F.L. game is with (would you believe) Cork in Cork on Sunday, 20th October, when Galway hurlers also play Cork at the same venue. A special train foe

teams and supporters is being mooted. Why not an 'All-in' for this occasion too ? Last Sunday's 'All-in' train was a great success (apart from the mad rush to get back to the train on time). I felt sorry for Liam Sammon to be the ipsing captain for the second time. He has put an awful lot into the shaping of this team. Our team is not as potentially great as we were in 1963. Then all we needed was maturity. We still need that but we need a few replace ments to become a team like Cork -- firing on all pistons from start to finish. It is early days yet to talk of 1974. The first round of the Connacht S.F.C. is a long Winter and more away and we have many more chances to assess our worth. So let's wait and salute our team on a gallant effort. The score Cork 3-17, Galway 2-13 (attendance 73,308). Half time score was Cork 1-10, Galway 0-6.

Inter-Firm Football Finals
Inter-Firm final time has come round again. On Satur day at Pearse Stadium the committee take on their big gest programme yet by stag ing the two deciders on the same afternoon. At 3 p.m. Garages and Connacht Minerals take the field to do battle for the Bowmaker Cup and C.P.I, plaques, while at 4.30 M c lnerneys play Roadstone in Division I to decide who will carry off the Vauxhall Cup and miniatures, with the Roadstone plaques for the runners-up. In the first game Garages powered by All-Ireland star Tom-N-a;ghton ably assisted by Joe Corcoran (Galway AllIreland minor captain of 1971, Peter Folan, Christy Howley, Tony Tigue, Martin Casserly and John O'Flaherty have a compact outfit. They are undefeated in the league and had a very convincing win over Galway Crystal in the semi-final. A grand young team with a solid defence built around Jordan, Cor coran, O'Connor and goalie O'Flaherty: a capable centrefield 'Pete Foian and T o m Naughton; dashing forwards Howley, Kelly, Murphy and O'Brien and with sideline advice from Tom Casserley they appear to have the ideal blend of youth and experi ence. What of Connacht Miner als ? Another team undefeated in the league and also with a notable semi-final to their credit. Some of their matches have produced the highest scoring in the competition! Playing all their games in quick succession at the start of the season the long lay-off may have reperciussons on their team work nevertheless with shrewd judges like Paddy Glynn and Teddy Duffy around I feel that the skills of Derek Lee, P. J. Newell, Harry O'Connor and captain Tim Conneely will overcome these difficulties. The winners take the fine Bowmaker Cup and medals while a beautiful set of plaques presented by C.P.I, await the runners-up. Joe Darcy the well-known Coiste na n-Og referee will be in charge. In the second game Road stone and Mclnerneys, both

from Group A, will line out at 4.30 p.m. in the Division I decider. Followers will recall that when these sides met in the earlier rounds they were both short some of their star players, nevertheless we had a grand game of football with Mclnerneys putting in a splendid last quarter to gain a well deserved draw. But a final is a different proposition and with two uncompromis ing defences on the field scores will be very hard to come by. Both these teams have un beaten runs and while Mc lnerneys may carry more big guns lots say that the best: game in the competition so far was the SPS v. Roadstone semi-final won by the latter by a single point. Mclnerneys have a fine goalkeeper in Gerry Rattigan who has conceded no goal this season. Christy Cunning ham's contribution to this situation is, of course, im mense. Now playing with his native Balivor the Co. Meath man has given sterling service to Fr. Griffin's and Galway football. Johnny Hughes and Willie Joyce with impressive Croke Park displays to their credit will take some beating while yound Duffy will be around to ensure that all placed balls are properly expressed on the scoreboard. John Connolly may be more at home with the caman but in the semi-final we saw a lot of him particularly in the first half when the lighter Digital boys moved so well. Other Mclnerney stalwarts include Geraghty, Scully, Higgins and Ward. All the trophies are on display at B. Hynes Ltd., St. Augustine Street.

MOTORING
The 300 mile Castrol Rally in Wexford over the weekend was won by Ronnie McCart ney in his 2.6 litre Porsche. In second place was Robert Ward from Donegal (one and a half minutes behind) in a B.M.W. Noel Smith from Dublin finished in third place in a Ford Escort B.D.A. Only two seconds behind Smith in fifth place was Gerry Forde in his Ford Twincam. The Galway Motor Crew of John Dempsey and Bryan Brophy were going very well but were knocked out of the rally with a broken half shaft. The other Galway crew, Tom Crowe and P. J. Gannon were also forced to retire due to an 'argument with a ditch.'