GALWAY CAME GOOD in the second half against the wind to see off a dogged Monaghan side in difficult conditions at Pearse Stadium in Salthill. Monaghan only trailed by a point at the interval but they were unable to use wind advantage after the restart to fashion victory. The Farney county won the toss and opted to play against the wind and rain in the opening half and after packing out their defence, they were in a strong position for victory when they went in trailing by just 0-6 to 0-5 at the interval.
It took Galway almost 13 minutes to get their first score, a point from a free on the left wing from Shane Walsh which tied the scores after Jack McCarron got Monaghan off the mark with a fifth minute free. Paul Conroy edged the Tribesmen in front with a fine effort from distance after 16 minutes but they struggled to break down Monaghan’s packed rearguard with the visitors often having all 15 men inside their own half when Galway were in possession. And with Monaghan — who started Joel Wilson instead of Conor McManus — superb on the counter-attack they picked off the next three scores with Micheal Bannigan levelling with a free before they opened up a 0-4 to 0-2 lead after 26 minutes with efforts from Gary Mohan and Stephen O’Hanlon.
Galway’s plight deepened when Walsh limped off but after Matthew Tierney and Bannigan exchanged points, the Tribesmen finished the half strongly with points from Rob Finnerty, Tierney and Conroy to lead by the minimum at the break. McC.