Connacht SFC Semi-final Galway 1-11 Leitrim 1-8: The fact that Leitrim were within one kick of sending this Connacht semi-final to a replay was testimony more to the disappointing quality of Galway's performance than to the exploits of Dessie Dolan's men at Pearse Stadium.
Having recently won the All-Ireland under-21 title, and with five of that side starting yesterday, Galway were facing this season with renewed optimism. That optimism may need to be reconsidered following this display.
True, Galway manager Peter Ford can point to the fact that injuries and illness disrupted his side and the return of Padraic Joyce and Joe Bergin, both of whom made late appearances yesterday, will be a big boost ahead of the Connacht final.
Perhaps it will be the availability of Clive Monaghan and Richie Fahey which may be more crucial as the Galway full-back line will need restructuring after enduring a torturous afternoon against Leitrim's two-man full-forward line.
"We knew Galway were suspect in the full-back line and we targeted that," said Leitrim manager Dessie Dolan. "But we left ourselves with too much to do after a poor first-half performance.
"It would have been great to have taken them back to Carrick-on-Shannon for a replay. But our first-half display was just not good enough."
Galway led by 0-8 to 0-2 at half-time and seemed poised for an easy win. Barry Cullinane, one of three debutants, produced an outstanding display in the middle of the field with his under-21 team-mate Niall Coleman, but Galway struggled to make possession count up front.
The twin threat of Mícheál Meehan and Seán Armstrong, the scoring sensations of the under-21 win, was never allowed to materialise as Leitrim backs Michael McGuinness and Dermot Reynolds stuck to their tasks doggedly.
The game itself never reached any great heights, Galway edging 0-3 to 0-2 in front at the end of the first quarter. Michael Donnellan, who took over the free-taking duties in the absence of Joyce, landed two after Derek Savage supplied their first.
Leitrim, having taken the lead through a Michael Foley free after seven minutes, managed only one point from play in the opening half, Declan Maxwell hitting the target after 18 minutes. He was unlucky not to see two good goal chances fail to hit the target as he caused the Galway defence considerable trouble.
Galway began to make their superiority count, however. Meehan kicked two frees from the right, Donnellan added another and Cullinane crowned his superb debut with a fine point from the right.
Armstrong, who had to retire in the second half with a head injury, was off target with a goal effort before he pointed to give Galway a commanding six-point lead at the break.
"We should have finished them off at that stage," said Ford. "That was a good lead and it would have taken only another couple of scores to wrap it up. But we made it hard for ourselves."
Donnellan stretched the lead with an excellent effort from 50 yards seven minutes after the restart but Leitrim's spirit was evident as Barry Prior and James Glancy responded with points.
Paul Clancy pointed from the right wing but then the Leitrim challenge ignited when Maxwell set up substitute Donal Brennan for a goal which reduced the deficit to three points.
Leitrim replaced goalkeeper Cathal McCrann in an attempt to improve their kickouts but Gareth Phelan's first task was to pick the ball out of the net after Meehan set up Paul Clancy who shot first time.
Maxwell and Matthew Clancy exchanged points with eight minutes remaining and Galway should have coasted home with a six-point advantage.
They had to endure a nervous end as Foley shot two points and Maxwell hit his third to leave a goal between the sides going into five minutes of stoppage time, but they held out, Donnellan and Cullinane dropping back to help out a beleaguered defence.
"We will need to improve for the Connacht final. But often a game like this can bring a team on. We have a lot to do but I am just glad this one is over and we are into the final," said Ford.
GALWAY: B O'Donoghue; A Burke, K Fitzgerald, V Feeney; D Meehan, D Burke, M Comer; N Coleman, B Cullinane (0-1); P Clancy (1-1), M Donnellan (0-4, three frees), M Clancy (0-1); M Meehan (0-2, both frees), D Savage (0-1), S Armstrong (0-1). Subs: T Giblin for Feeney (30 mins), N Coyne for Comer (half-time), J Bergin for Armstrong, (56 mins), P Joyce for Savage (66 mins), T Meehan for A Burke (68 mins).
LEITRIM: C McCrann; D Reynolds, J McKeon, M McGuinness; N Gilbane, B McWeeney, S Foley; C Carroll, G McCloskey; J Goldrick, B Prior (0-1), C Regan; M Foley (0-3, one free), D Maxwell (0-3), J Glancy (0-1). Subs: D Duignan for Gilbane (23 mins), D Brennan (1-0) for Goldrick (half-time), G Phelan for McCrann (49 mins).
Referee: M Monagh (Kildare).
Attendance: 10,243.
