Galway SL 1 Kerry SL 0 (Quarter Final)

Another great performance from the Galway SL Under 13 team in today’s quarter final saw them defeat the Kerry SL 1-0 courtesy of a Conor Shaughnessy goal after 16 minutes. Galway manager John Power kept faith with an unchanged side for this afternoon’s game and they rewarded him with an excellent last eight win.

Galway started well and after 4 minutes a Ciaran Kerins cross into the box was dropped by the Kerry keeper, Roy Kelleher, and Dillion Murphy almost got to the loose ball before the keeper collected at the second attempt. James Healy then pulled of a good save blocking a dangerous shot from Darragh Roche at his near post to keep the sides level on 7 minutes.

Galway opened the scoring on 16 minutes when a brillantly flighted corner kick by Salthills Conor Shaughnessy was swung in under the crossbar and the Kerry keeper, Kelleher, caught it but carried it over the line. Galway almost doubled their lead on 25 minutes as Barna’s Jason Lyons burst into box beating the defender before firing straight at Kelleher from eight yards.

Galway dominated the second half without ever adding to their first half score as they had a couple of great chances to double their lead in the second period. On 34 minutes a dangerous cross from the right by Joe Gaughan went across the face of the Kerry goal with no Galway player there to knock it home as eventually Christopher Sherlock’s effort was blocked and cleared. Kerry then almost levelled as their best player, Gary O’Neill, sent a header just inches over James Healy’s crossbar on 41 minutes. Seven minutes later Healy tipped a brillant effort from Colm Murphy over his crossbar with the referee bizarrely awarding a kick-out!

Galway hit back straight away as Lyons broke into the Kerry box again only to see his effort well saved again by Kelleher on 49 minutes. A minute later and Lyons was once again denied as he connected with a Gaughan corner kick only to see his shot cleared of the line by Ryan Downey on the post. A great run down the right wing by Gaughan on 54 minutes saw him beat two defenders before firing across the face of the goal once again. Another Gaughan corner kick found Sherlock and his header was once on target but Downey once again came to Kerry’s rescue with another goal line clearance at the post.

Kerry continued to push forward for the final 5 minutes winning a number of free-kicks in dangerous positions but Galway’s back four of Alex Byrne, Garbhan Malone, Fionnan Gallagher and Diarmuid Fadden held firm and keeper James Healy dealt with everything that got through comfortably. Galway should have doubled their lead once again in the final minute as sub Eoghan Walsh and Jason Lyons broke away with Lyons eventually rounding Kerry keeper Kelleher before firing into the side netting.

Another great win now sees Galway advance to the last four with North Dublin SL who defeated Donegal 2-0 in their quarter final. That semi-final will be played tomorrow (Thursday 18^th June) at 5 p.m. in the UL Bowl. The other semi-final sees Dundalk take on the DDSL who are going for a six in row having won the Kennedy Cup for the last five years.

Galway SL :James Healy (Cregmore), Fionnan Gallaher (Renmore), Garbhan Malone (Barna), Alex Byrne (Knocknacarra), Diarmuid Fadden (Salthill Devon), Conor Shaughnessy (Salthill Devon), Joe Gaughan (Salthill Devon), Christopher Sherlock (Mervue Utd), Jason Lyons (Barna), Dillion Murphy (St Bernards) and Ciaran Kerins (Corrib Celtic). Subs: Eoghan Walsh (Mervue Utd) for Murphy (45 mins), Richard Fahy (Moyne Villa) for Sherlock (56 mins).

Referee: Alan Knox (Dublin)

Game 1 V Drogheda SL – Won 1-0. A second half goal from Jason Lyons (Barna) secured the win. A good header from a Joe Gaughan corner kick after 50 minutes was enough to get the campaign off to a winning start against a battling Drogheda side. Although a last minute save by Galway keeper James Healy at the feet of Patrick Mboyo ensured a first three points.

Game 2 V Sligo/Leitrim SL – Won 4-2. Three first half goals from Jason Lyons (Barna) and two from Dillion Murphy (St Bernards) saw Galway build up a very good lead at the break. Sligo/Leitrim responded with two goals within 10 minutes of the restart as they pulled it back to 3-2 with goals from Darragh Farrell and Colm Feeney. Galway though held their nerve and Dilion Murphy completed his hat-trick with eight minutes left when he bundled home Jason Lyons cross at the back post.

Game 3 V South Tipperary SL – Won 3-0. Three second half goals from Ciaran Kerins (Corrib Celtic), Richard Fahy (Moyne Villa) and a penalty from Joe Gaughan (Salthill Devon) ensured qualification for Wednesday’s quarter finals. After a scoreless opening period were both sides cancelled each other out Galway finally got on top in the second period. They opened the scoring 10 minutes into the second half when Christopher Sherlock cross from the left was touched home at the near post by Ciaran Kerins. The second arrived on 53 minutes when Joe Gaughan released sub Richard Fahy down the right wing and he cut into the box before firing a great shot into the top corner to put Galway 2-0 up. Just a minute later and Galway were three up when they were awarded a penalty after Tipperary keeper Danny O’Mahony took Ciaran Kerins down in the box. Salthill’s Joe Gaughan kept his nerve well slotting the penalty coolly past O’Mahony to ensure Galway’s passage into the last eight.

Galway now face the Kerry SL in Wednesday’s quarter final at 3 p.m. at Limerick’s UL sports facility.