Galway Advertiser 2009/GA_2009_08_13/GA_1308_E1_085.pdf 

Extracted text

August 13 2009

AdvertiserSport
Tel: 091 530900 I Fax: 091 567150 I www.advertiser.ie
SPORTS EDITOR: LINLEY MacKENZIE I CONTACT: 091 530 929 I OR EMAIL sport@galwayadvertiser.ie / lmackenzie@galwaydvertiser.ie

United must lift their heads for cup clash
BY CIAN O'CONNELL
A place in the quarter-finals of the FAI Cup is the significant bounty for the winners of tomorrow's Terryland Park clash between Galway United and Longford Town. "It is a big game, especially after the Drogheda performance," says assistant manager Tom French. " We want to get back into winning ways, to get ready for the next league game." Galway's latest addition, Aaron Green, is not eligible to feature in the cup, but French is optimistic the teenager can make an impact in the west. "Aaron has been in a scheme in Dublin, we didn't know much about him. What we have seen so far in training is that he has a good touch, he is quick, he came on in a hard game two nil down. He did well when he came on, and hopefully we will see more of him." Longford, with former Galway frontrunner Derek Glynn spearheading the attack, caused a mild surprise, beating Wexford Youths in the previous round, and will bring the usual commitment associated with Gareth Cronin teams to the banks of the Corrib. Tuesday at Terryland Park proved to be one of those difficult nights when everything went horribly wrong for Galway United. Still the loss was put into perspective by the pre-match minute's silence which was observed for manager Ian Foster's father, who died on Monday. There were plenty of factors which disrupted Galway's preparations including the confirmation that Jay O'Shea had played his last game with United having signed a two-year deal with Birmingham City. First-half goals from Conor Kenna and Jamie Duffy ensured Drogheda assumed a commanding position, and they never looked like relinquishing the lead. John Russell's absence was sorely missed as Drogheda governed the midfield battle, and eked out a valuable victory. "If you take the Sligo game we played really well with Russell in there," said French. "We missed him keeping the ball, and getting hold of it in the midfield. He has been in top form, and he was a big loss because you could see there was a bit of a gap in the middle for us. He is back tomorow night, and that will be a big plus for us. "It was very disappointing because we played really well against Sligo. This was a big game for us because it gave us a chance to push away from the three at the bottom. We didn't create enough chances, and unfortunately it wasn't good enough on the night. " We have been working hard in training, and we have played well in the last few matches, but we were way below par which is disappointing. We have Longford tomorrow night and we just have to lift the heads."

Kilkenny will test Galway's All Ireland credentials
BY LINLEY MACKENZIE Galway senior camogie players must overcome a resurgent Kilkenny in their own back yard if they are to qualify for a second successive All Ireland final. The two sides meet in a double header at Nowlan Park on Saturday (2pm) followed by the clash of champions Cork and Wexford. Galway, having qualified on top of group two, are paired with the group one runners-up, and they will head into Saturday's All Ireland Senior Camogie Championship semi-final knowing anything other than a 100 per cent performance will not be enough against the Noresiders. Unbeaten in the group stages, their most significant win was against Wexford. They opened with a comfortable victory over Clare 3 - 17 to 1- 04 before accounting for Wexford on a 3-7 to 2-06 scoreline. Their most recent outing against Limerick was a facile 1-16 to 0 - 8 victory. However they will have to step-up a gear when they meet Ann Downey's Kilkenny, a side that accounted for Tipperary and Dublin in the group stages. Galway have enjoyed a change in fortunes since Liam O'Donoghue took charge, advancing to both National League and All Ireland finals last year. However they were denied twice by Kilkenny - in the league decider and in the group stages of the championship when Kilkenny overturned a 1-5 to 0-6 half-time deficit to outscore the visitors by 1-7 to 0-4 in the second half. Galway, however, bounced back to advance to the All Ireland final for the first time in a decade, only to lose out to Cork by 2-10 to 1-8. With both sides enjoying something of a resurgence in recent times, a highly competitive encounter is expected. Galway have quality players, and plenty of experience, with some 12 players involved in last year's championship. Therese Manton, Ann Marie Hayes, captain Sinead Cahalan, and Niamh Kilkenny are proven defenders, while Athenry's Therese Maher is a leader, marshalling a quality forward line where Orla Kilkenny, Brenda Hanney, Aishlinn Connolly, Veronica Curtin, and Jessica Gill are proven stars. Connolly, who has taken over this season in the free-taking role, has been in accurate form all season, while Veronica Curtin is back to her best after missing league action. Gill, who returned to championship action against Limerick, may be lacking match practise, but to have last year's top scorer is an added boost to a team that is already in form. Galway also enjoy a strong bench this year, enabling replacements to be made when necessary. Galway, along with Wexford, and Cork have been tipped as strong contenders for the O'Duffy Cup this year, but Kilkenny are the dark horses. Galway also enjoy a strong bench this year. This is a big test for both sides. Kilkenny have been Galway's bogey team in recent times, and home advantage should work in their favour. As a result Galway will have to be at their best to topple the Noresiders and advance to a second successive final. Galway: S Earner, R Glynn, A Kelly, T Manton, AM Hayes, S Cahalan, N Kilkenny, S Tannion, L Ryan, B Hanney, T Maher, J Gill, V Curtin, O Kilkenny, A Connolly. Subs, R Callanan, C Glynn, A Hillary, B Kerins, E Kilkelly, C Cormican, M Dunne, S Keane, D Burke, A Lynksey, S Donoghue, S Noone, N McGrath, P Kenny, L Kvanagh.

Galway ladies face Monaghan
BY LINLEY MACKENZIE Galway's senior ladies footballers return to action this weekend in search of a place in this year's All Ireland semi-finals. The Connacht champions will face Monaghan in Saturday's quarter-final which takes place in Ballymahon, Co Longford (6pm). Mayo will take on Tyrone in the first of a double header at 4.15pm. Galway enter the championship in confident form, having ousted Mayo in the provincial decider for the first time in three years. However manager Gay O'Brien will not be taking Monaghan for granted. Last year's All Ireland finalists received something of a shock defeat at the hands of Tyrone in the Ulster final, but as expected they rallied to overcome Down in the qualifier series. They showed their pedigree in that 13-point victory over Down on a scoreline of 0 - 22 to 0 - 9 with Edel Byrne and Catriona McConnell their leading points scorers. These two outfits both met in the Bord Gais Energy Ladies Gaelic Football League earlier in
the year when Galway were pipped in a tight game by 1 - 8 to 0 - 12. On that occasion Monaghan showed their determination to claw back Galway's early lead, and while they were content to tag on points, Galway's decision to go for goals proved costly. Galway certainly have accurate forwards on which they can rely, and all six contributed to their 3 - 17 to 2 - 8 victory over Mayo. Una Carroll and Anne Marie McDonagh were the scoring aces on that occasion, but Lorna Joyce, Sinead Burke, Edel Concannon, and Ger Connelly, are all capable of posting scores when necessary. Led by the hardworking Eimear Flaherty at the back, Galway are an experienced side who will not want to be bullied by Monaghan on Saturday. Their biggest concern is a doubt over Carroll, who would be a major loss if unavailable. Although Galway's star has waned over the last few years since making the breakthrough in 2004, their victory over Mayo has given them renewed confidence, but they will be up against it on Saturday. The county's juniors also found it tough going against Cork in the Aisling McGing AllIreland semi-final in Fermoy on Sunday, going down by 3 - 13 to 3 - 6. Amid great expectations, the Galway juniors started brightly and were 1 - 1 up within five minutes after Mairead Kyne broke the cover and rifled the ball to the net. However it was shortlived when Cork's Katie Sheehan found the net twice. However Galway did not give up and with the last play of the first half Mairead Kyne scored her second goal to leave the teams level at 2-4 at the break. Cork upped the pace and posted some fine points, while Galway found a perfect goal shot was blocked by the Cork goalie Martina O'Brien. She palmed the ball to the in-rushing Mairead Kyne who in turn vollied to the net, but on this occasion the referee deemed it a square ball,. Despite this setback Galway pushed on and Kyne was rewarded with her third goal. Although Gillian O'Connor added a point, Cork tagged on two more points to leave the final score Cork 2-13 to Galway 3-6.

Football championship hots up

An exciting weekend of Gaelic football is promised with four quarter-finals of the senior championship down for decision, and also the last eight in the intermediate championship, There are two double headers at senior level with Tuam stadium the venue for all four games. On Saturday at 5.30pm Sathill/Knocknacarra take on St Brendan's, while Tuam Stars clash with former AllIreland champions Caltra 90 minutes later. On Sunday evening at 5.30pm Annaghdown try to down the black and amber of Mountbellew/Moylough, while Killererin face the current county champions Corofin. (See Ray Silke's column for previews of the senior championship games). At Intermediate level, the four championship games down for decision are Oranmore-Maree v Lettermore, St Kerill's and Dunmore McHales, Kilconly v Oughterard, and Carna/Cashel face St. James. Intermediate fixtures: Saturday, Oranmore-Maree v Lettermore (Pearse Stadium 6pm); St Kerrill's v Dunmore McHales (Menlough 6pm); Sunday, Kilconly v Oughterard (Pearse Stadium 3.30pm); Carna Cashel v St James (Pearse Stadium 5pm).