Hurling/Connacht League: A powerful second-half performance helped the Rest of Connacht to a fine 2-13 to 0-7 win over NUIG in the opening round of the Connacht Hurling League played at Athleague yesterday.
Following a well-contested first half, the students led by six points to five at the interval. However, the Rest of Connacht gained control on the resumption and a Pierce Higgins goal proved to be the defining moment of the game.
The Rest of Connacht finished with a flourish thanks to a goal from Darragh Mulvey and points from Shane Sweeney and Mulvey.
SCORERS - Rest of Connacht: D Mulvey (1-4), D McConn (0-3), P Higgins (1-0), C Kelly (0-2), P Seevers (0-1), S Sweeney (0-1), T Lennon (0-1), M Connaughton (0-1). NUIG: D Kelly (0-2), K Neylon (0-2), T Scroope (0-2), J Dunphy (0-1).
The Galway development team easily accounted for a hapless GMIT in the other first-round game played at windswept Ballindereen.
Galway took early control and goals from Tom Tierney and Ollie Fahey pushed them into a commanding 2-7 to 0-1 at the interval. They cruised in the second half to a convincing 3-12 to 0-3 victory.
SCORERS - Galway: R Gantley (0-4), T Tierney (2-1), A Cullinane (0-2), G Quinn (0-1), K Broderick (0-1), J Conroy (0-1). GMIT: C Callanan, N Earls, K Huban (0-1) each.
