Gaelic Games

Injuries the only concern for Galway as they storm past London in Ruislip

Johnny Heaney and Tomo Culhane both had to come off in one-sided Connacht quarter-final

Galway's Cathal Sweeney scores a goal despite the attention of London's Stephen Dornan in the Connacht SFC quarter-final at McGovern Park in Ruislip. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho
Galway's Cathal Sweeney scores a goal despite the attention of London's Stephen Dornan in the Connacht SFC quarter-final at McGovern Park in Ruislip. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho
Darragh Leen at McGovern Park in Ruislip
Sat Apr 06 2024 - 19:05
Connacht SFC quarter-final: London 0-9 Galway 5-21

A 27-point stroll for Pádraig Joyce’s Galway at Ruislip, the only asterisk of their comprehensive Connacht SFC quarter-final victory being further injury complications up front for Johnny Heaney and Tomo Culhane, necessitating their early withdrawal.

The Culhane blow is particularly frustrating with the Salthill Knocknacarra man netting twice after his second-half introduction before limping out of the game in the 52nd minute. Similarly, Heaney was in flying form, kicking three first-half points coming in off the right wing before he too was withdrawn.

Unfortunately for Michael Maher’s hosts, the narrative was set as early as the coin toss which Galway won, opting for first use of the howling north to south wind. And the visitors made full use of it, posting a 15-point interval lead, 1-15 to 0-3, the goal coming four minutes before the break as Cathal Sweeney scythed through the heart of the London defence.

London needed some early impetus to test Galway’s pulse, but against the elements, goalkeeper Micheal Lynch struggled to find green jerseys from restarts and veteran Galway midfielder Paul Conroy gobbled up everything in the air and from breaking ball.

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Galway, who progress to a provincial semi final meeting with Sligo or Leitrim, were in no mood to countenance a second-half revival from their hosts, who struggled to get the 4,000 crowd at Ruislip involved.

Once Conroy palmed Galway’s second goal to the net on 48 minutes, the dam burst ad Tomo Culhane netted twice within 90 seconds to put them 3-18 to 0-4 in front.

That London have had no full GAA pitch to train on in the spring is clearly a hindrance but so too was their indiscipline in the opening half, with referee Liam Devenney bringing Galway frees closer to goal for London backchat.

In the greater scheme of things it made little difference, but in terms of their Tailteann Cup campaign, which guarantees three more games for London, it’s something they should be conscious of.

Meanwhile, Cein Darcy slalomed through in the 55th minute for Galway’s fifth goal, and if there was anything to take from the sobering afternoon for London, it was nice late points from Rafter, Gallagher and Diver.

LONDON: M Lynch; D Rooney, M Moynihan, F Eastwood; O Kerr, E Walshe, T Barry; L Gallagher (0-3, two frees), S Dornan; DJ O’Flaherty, D Clarke (0-2), C Diver (0-1); J Obahor, S Rafter (0-2), N MacElwaine.

Subs: M Miller for N McElwaine (18 mins), P Dolan for F Eastwood (h-t), G McDowell for T Barry (48), R Rafferty (0-1) for S Dornan (51), M Carroll for O Kerr (57).

GALWAY: C Gleeson: J McGrath, S Fitzgerald, J Glynn; D McHugh (0-1), J Daly (0-1), L Silke (0-1); P Conroy (1-3), S Kelly; J Heaney (0-4), C Sweeney (1-1), C Darcy (1-2); R Finnerty (0-4, one free, one mark), C Ó Curraoin (0-4, three frees), L Ó Congháile.

Subs: D O’Flaherty for C Sweeney (h-t), S Mulkerrin for L Silke (48), K Molloy for J Heaney (48), T Culhane (2-0) for C Ó Curraoin (48), E Kelly for S Kelly (54).

Referee: L Devenney (Mayo).