1-7 for Shane Walsh as Galway edge a stone-cold classic in Newry to make quarter-final
Galway 2-5-16 (32)
Down 3-4-13 (30)
GALWAY JUST ABOUT done enough against a superb Down challenge to book their place in next weekend's All-Ireland quarter-finals.
When it looked like Down were about to pass them out completely, a goal from Tomo Culhane when he grasped a loose ball spilled by Peter Cooke put them into a strong position going down the stretch, enough to survive a Ryan Magill goal with time ticking out.
Down went in at the break ten points down with a strong breeze not helping their case, but hit two two-point scores immediately after the restart to set up a nerve-shredding second half.
With his final contribution, Shane Walsh swung over a two-point free with his left foot before departing the scene, and his fitness will be of huge concern.
The contribution of Peter Cooke was crucial to claiming some authority on the kickout in the second half, the big Moycullen man providing a serious presence after being introduced.
Odhran Murdoch and Magill goaled in the last ten minutes for Down, who will rue some simple chances missed.
More to follow….
Scorers for Galway: Shane Walsh 1-7 (1-0, 2 x 2point frees, 1 x 2 point), Robert Finnerty 0-6 (0-1f, 1 x 2point), Matthew Thompson 0-5 (1 x 2point), Tomo Culhane 1-0, Matthew Tierney, Daniel O'Flaherty, Cillian McDaid 0-2 each, Cein Darcy, Peter Cooke 0-1 each.
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Scorers for Down: Odhran Murdoch 1-2, Daniel Guinness 0-4 (2 x 2points), John McGeogh 1-1, Ryan Magill 1-0, Danny Magill, Caolan Mooney 0-2 each, Miceál Rooney 0-2 (1 x 2point), Ryan McEvoy 0-2 (1 x 2point), Pat Havern 0-2 (2f), Ceilum Doherty, Eugene Branagan 0-1 each, Adam Crimmins 0-1 (1f)
Galway
1. Conor Flaherty (Claregalway)
2. Johnny McGrath (Caherlistrane) 3. Seán Fitzgerald (Bhearna) 4. Liam Silke (Corofin)
5. Dylan McHugh (Corofin) 6. Seán Kelly (Moycullen) 7. Cian Hernon (Bhearna)
8. Paul Conroy (St James') 9. John Maher (Salthill-Knocknacarra)
10. Cein Darcy (Ballyboden) 11. Matthew Tierney (Oughterard) 12. Cillian McDaid (Monivea Abbey)
13. Robert Finnerty (Salthill Knocknacarra) 14. Shane Walsh (Kilmacud) 15. Matthew Thompson (Knocknacarra)
Subs:
22. Peter Cooke (Moycullen) for Conroy (47 mins)
20. Daniel O'Flaherty (Salthill Knocknacarra) for Hernon (56 mins)
25. Johnny Heaney (Killannin) for McDaid (61 – 69 mins)
24. Tomo Culhane (Salthill Knocknacarra) for Walsh (62 mins)
21. John Daly (Mountbellew-Moylough) for Maher (67 mins)
Down
1. Ronan Burns (Drumgath)
2. Patrick McCarthy (Burren) 3. Peter Fegan (Burren) 4. Ceilum Doherty (Kilcoo)
5. Ryan Magill (Burren) 6. Peirce Laverty (Saul) 7. Miceál Rooney (Kilcoo)
8. Daniel Guinness (Carryduff) 9. Ryan McEvoy (Kilcoo)
10. Danny Magill (Burren) 11. Odhran Murdock (Burren) 21. Adam Crimmins (Mayobridge)
13. James Guinness (Carryduff) 14. Pat Havern (Saval) 15. John McGeogh (Carryduff)
Subs:
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12. Eugene Branagan (Kilcoo) for Crimmins (22-27 mins)
23. Caolan Mooney (Downpatrick) for McGeogh (53 mins)
22. Oisín Savage (Loughinisland) for Doherty (57 mins)
26. Conor McCrickard (Liatroim) for Crimmins (61 mins)
24. Finn Murdock (Rostrevor) for Rooney (66 mins)
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The Irish Sun
26 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Galway survive Down's late surge to seal All-Ireland quarter-final spot in five-goal classic
After nerve-shredding finishes against Mayo, Dublin, Derry and Armagh, Galway had already been involved in their share of high octane, high drama ties before surviving another against Down in the Marshes. Forward trio Shane Walsh, Rob Finnerty and Matthew Thompson scored 1-18 between them as the Tribesmen left with a two-point victory. 2 The Tribesmen ousted Down in a cracking clash to seal a last-eight place 2 There were five goals in the thrilling clash at Pairc Esler But only after weathering a stirring fightback from the Mourne men inspired by Odhran Murdock. Winning manager Padraic Joyce said afterwards: "Very happy that we got through. "Great game of football, up and down the pitch the whole time. It was error-ridden, a lot of turnovers, a lot of good play. "We probably started the game poorly enough but then second half of the first half, we pulled away and got a 10-point cushion at half-time after Shane got the goal. read more on gaa "Came out after half-time and we let them get back into the game with two two-pointers. "The game then was topsy-turvy in the second half, tit for tat, back and over. We looked in a bit of bother in the second half when they got back to two or three points. "In fairness to our experienced lads, Peter Cooke made a massive difference when he came on the pitch. Tomo Culhane got a great goal, Daniel O'Flaherty two points. "Our bench has made a massive impact in the last couple of games, as it did today. Most read in GAA Football "Johnny Heaney came on after a head injury for Cillian McDaid, and he handled the ball three or four times and minded the ball really, really well. "A lot of aspects we'd be really happy with, obviously a lot of aspects we wouldn't be happy with and the amount of scores we conceded. But it was that kind of game, it was going to be open. 'Just in time for Father's Day' - Dublin GAA legends welcome the birth of precious baby daughter "People are saying we don't play for 70 minutes. I think we got a good performance there for the full 70 minutes overall. "We know where we are, we're happy enough to be there. We've work to do. We just can't perform like that next week whoever we are playing in the quarter-finals. If we concede that kind of score, we're going to be in trouble." A crucial eight-minute spell at the end of the first half pushed a wind-assisted Galway lead of 1-7 to 1-6 out to 1-16 to 1-6 at the hooter. Walsh buried past Down's excellent 'keeper Ronan Burns on 22 minutes and kicked a couple from outside the 40-metre arc, as did Thompson and Finnerty. Odhran Murdock and Danny Magill were on target with two points apiece for the home side, while Murdock also set John McGeough away for their opening goal on 14 minutes. Down were a side transformed after the break with Daniel Guinness and Miceal Rooney two-pointers inside 90 seconds getting their support more involved. Galway steadied themselves with Thompson, Finnerty and Matthew Tierney points for a 1-20 to 1-13 advantage on 49 minutes before another Down surge followed as Galway's kickout came under intense pressure. A second Guinness two-pointer and sub Caolan Mooney's impact cut it back to two before Galway's bench began to influence matters. Peter Cooke and Daniel O'Flaherty found the target, while Walsh converted a terrific two-point free prior to his injury-enforced withdrawal. Galway's 1-24 to 1-19 lead appeared too much for Down to reel in, but Murdock had other ideas and ignited a rally with Down's second goal to cut the deficit to just two on 65 minutes. Sub Tomo Culhane's green flag two minutes later was the key moment for the Tribesmen and finally saw off Down's resurgence. And though Ryan Magill netted the game's fifth at the other end soon after, a relieving Céin D'Arcy point confirmed Galway's victory and a quarter-final date with Meath, Monaghan or Tyrone. Down boss Conor Laverty was upset after the game. He said: "Bad feeling in the stomach now. "We knew that taking any team in the country to Newry, we felt we had an opportunity to win it. We definitely didn't think that today was going to be our last day in the championship. "I came here today with a massive belief that these players could perform at this level and that this is the standard that we want to be play at. "What we did talk to the players about, do you want to be coming here today to Páirc Esler playing in front of 14,000 people? What would you rather be playing? 'I came to a league match here against Clare one year and there wasn't 150 people at it. Playing against teams in the Tailteann Cup, there were only a couple of hundred people at them, and that's nothing against the Tailteann Cup because it was a stepping stone. "That's where this group of young Down players with a serious mindset and a serious desire to be competing at the top table.' Galway: C Flaherty; J McGrath, S Fitzgerald, L Silke; D McHugh, S Kelly, C Hernon; P Conroy, J Maher; C D'Arcy 0-1, M Thompson 0-5 1tp, C McDaid 0-2; R Finnerty 0-6 1tp 1f, S Walsh 1-7 1tp 2tpf, M Tierney 0-2. Subs: P Cooke 0-1 for Conroy 47, D O'Flaherty 0-2 for Hernon 56, J Heaney for McDaid temp 61-69, T Culhane 1-0 for Walsh 62, J Daly for Maher 67. Down: R Burns; P McCarthy, P Fegen, C Doherty 0-1; R Magill 1-0, P Laverty, M Rooney 0-2 tp; D Guinness 0-4 2tp, R McEvoy 0-2 tp; D Magill 0-2, O Murdock 1-2, A Crimmins 0-1 f; J Guinness 0-1, P Havern 0-2 2f, J McGeough 1-1. Subs: E Brannigan 0-1 for McCarthy temp 21-26 & HT, C Mooney 0-2 for McGeough 53, O Savage for Doherty 58, C McCrickard for Crimmins 62, F Murdock for Rooney 66. REFEREE: D O'Mahoney.
Irish Times
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Irish Times
an hour ago
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Curragh boss says marathon World Pool programmes not a problem for racegoers
Next Sunday's €1.25 million Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby will be the centrepiece of another bumper nine-race card and Curragh officials insist such marathon programmes are not an issue for racegoers. Last year, Irish racing's HQ hosted the first nine-race meeting in modern times to facilitate the lucrative Tote World Pool betting. The Curragh first hosted the pool run by the Hong Kong Jockey Club in 2023 , when it prompted the Derby date to be switched to Sunday for the first time in 14 years. Almost €30 million in global betting turnover was generated on the Curragh action in 2023. Sunday's action could end up being worth up to €700,000 for the Tote here, as well as the Curragh and Horse Racing Ireland . READ MORE Last month's Guineas festival at the Curragh was part of the pool for the first time and also saw a nine-race programme for 2,000 Guineas day. It prompted some complaints about the length of the card, while there was also disquiet at Epsom earlier this month when Derby day there was included on the World Pool and led to an eight-race card. The pool is the biggest co-mingled market in world racing and operated at Royal Ascot last week. The Irish Champions Festival in September is also included in it. The Curragh's Derby festival kicks off on Friday and once more, a €100,000 handicap has been added to Sunday to make it nine races. Brian Kavanagh, chief executive of the Curragh, said he wasn't aware of criticism relating to the length of the programme at last year's Derby or at last month's 2,000 Guineas. 'I think the big days are days when people are here for a day out,' he said on Sunday. 'We've had days when, at the finish, people are looking for more races. 'It has worked fine. It's a chance to put on a €100,000 handicap as an extra race for three-year-olds, which was run for the first time on Derby day last year. Hopefully it will generate plenty of interest and activity." Part of the commentary at Epsom last month revolved around a lack of quality in some of the contests that backed up the big race. Kavanagh said that won't be the case this coming Sunday. Horse Racing Ireland put the fixture list together; that's not just our call — Brian Kavanagh 'These are all premier handicaps, very competitive races, backed up by a number of Listed races and obviously the Derby, the feature race itself,' said the Curragh boss. 'I think people come for the day and whether they stay for all the races or some races is a matter for themselves. It's a good opportunity to put another high-value race and Hong Kong, the World Pool, will take nine races if we put them on. That's the logic to it.' Ticket pricing for the Irish Derby has also come under the spotlight in recent years, nominated sometimes as a contributory factor to underwhelming attendance figures for Ireland's premier classic. An official figure of 11,418 was returned for Derby day last year. The capacity in the grandstand alone is 13,000. Kavanagh pointed out that the entry cost for Sunday's action is €35, providing people buy their tickets online up to Friday. He says this is 'very good value'. After the Friday cut-off, tickets increase to €45. He also confirmed that officials will look at reducing next year's Guineas festival to two days and losing the Friday evening card. However, a similar move in relation to the Derby festival won't be considered. 'Horse Racing Ireland put the fixture list together; that's not just our call. We will look at that (Guineas festival) for next year,' he said. 'But three days is well established for the Derby. The Friday for the Guineas was added just before or just after Covid. The Derby has been three days for more than 20 years, so I doubt that will change.' [ Kevin Prendergast, influential trainer, dies aged 92 Opens in new window ] An unsettled weather outlook for the week ahead could prove an important factor in deciding likely opposition to the Epsom Derby winner Lambourn on Sunday. Aidan O'Brien's star is odds-on in most betting lists ahead of Tuesday's latest acceptance stage where supplementary entries can be made. However, some ease in the going could make the Curragh a possible option for the Epsom runner Lazy Griff. The Dante winner Pride Of Arras failed to act around Epsom and is another potential cross-channel contender.
