Galway Advertiser 2005/2005_04_07/GA_0704_E1_127.pdf 

Extracted text

April 7 2005

SPORT

127

Coulter's goals leave Galway reeling
Down 2-11 Galway 0-14
Galway, although needing results elsewhere to go in their favour, charted their own downfall in this year's final round of the Allianz Football League. Three-quarters into this clash with Down and leading by 0-12 to 0-8, Galway looked comfortable to take victory at Duggan Park, Ballinasloe and with it a chance to make it to the league semi finals. While the result at Wexford Park eventually did not go Galway's way with Wexford overcoming Laois, few could have predicted that Galway would have been torn to pieces as they were in the final quarter. Brendan Coulter was the instrument that destroyed Galway in the final quarter with two clinical goals to leave Peter Ford's men shattered. The Galway midfield had starved the Down full forward of possession in the opening half, limiting him to just one point. However in a crowded midfield and with Down playing with more substanc, Coulter, scoring 2 - 2 in the second half, eventually broke the hopes of Galway in their final game of the Allianz Football League. One must question Galway's appetite for victory. Ford had left out his u-21 players, Niall Coleman, Michael Meehan, Alan Burke and Sean Armstrong, who will contest the Connacht u- 21 final clash with Mayo. Galway did start the better with Kieran Comer and Derek Savage slotting over a brace of points before Down's Ronan Murtagh and John Clarke found the target to level. Joe Bergin kicked over a super score, but this was cancelled by Coulter with a fisted effort. However Galway, dominating the midfield area, quickly took control. Matthew Clancy kicked over a great point under pressure, and after Declan Meehan was fouled after typically bursting forward into the attack, Padraig Joyce was on the scoreboard with a pointed free. After Down lost influential full back Adrian Scullion with a yellow card, Galway had a great opportunity to goal, but John Devane's effort hit off the post from close range. However Kieran Comer and Paul Clancy added points to put Galway into a four-point lead. Although John Clarke pulled back a point, Derek Savage split the Down posts with a delightful effort from an acute angle but Galway paid dearly for not putting Down away in this period of domination. Instead Ronan Murtagh pointed and Coulter showed his first signs of danger althoughAlan Keane made a super stop two minutes from the break. When Shane Ward reduced the deficit to just two points before half time, Galway 0-8 Down 0-6, the Galway lead was scant reward for the amount of possession. After Padraig Joyce added a Galway point when Paul Clancy was fouled, Down reduced the deficit to the minimum when John Clarke and Benny Coulter pointed. Padraig Joyce, Derek Savage and Kieran Comer all pointed to help Galway into a four point cushion 15 minutes into the second half. At that stage a comfortable Galway victory looked on the cards, but the game took a rapid turn when Coulter struck for the first of his goals. The dismissal of Damien Burke did not help.Down regrouped and quickly took the lead with a brace of points. After Coulter's second goal after Liam Doyle split open the Galway defence, Galway could only add two pointed frees from Padraig Joyce as the Tribesmen ended their league campaign for 2005. Galway: A Keane; T Giblin, K Fitzgerald, C Monahan; D Meehan, D Burke, M Comer; J Bergin (0-1), K Comer (0-3); M Clancy (0-1), P Clancy (0-1), J Devane; D Savage (0-3), P Joyce (0-5), S Walsh. Subs: A Burke for Giblin, T Costello for M Comer, M Meehan for Devane, M Meehan for Walsh, V Feeney for D Burke (yellow).

Crowe proves Galway's saviour
Former Millwall goalkeeper Adrian Cronin emerged as the key protagonist in a thrilling Oscar Traynor Cup tie at Terryland Park last Sunday afternoon. Cronin, making a brief but brilliant cameo, made three critical penalty saves to ensure Galway advanced 3 - 0 on penalties after the sides finished 2 - 2 after extra time. An Alan O'Donavan header and Seamie Crowe goal had the sides level after extra time, but it was the Athenry goalkeeper who made the decisive contribution in the last act. Crowe, Noel McDonnell, and Alan O'Donavan all rifled home penalties for Galway, but it was Cronin's reflexes which saved the day.

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