However Padraig Joyce who was completely dominant on the 40 for the tribesmen throughout responded with two well-taken points from play. Joyce was a menace and constant threat throughout for Leitrim's defence and in the eleventh minute a well worked move involving Nicky Joyce resulted in Joyce hammering a left foot shot to the back of the Leitrim net. Galway eased into a five-point lead after 20 minutes through efforts from an impressive Michael Meehan and Nicky Joyce. Galway by this stage were rampant and Leitrim goalkeeper Enda Lyons did brilliantly to deny Fiachra Breathnach from close range. Fine displays from Leitrim midfielders Gary McClosky and Michael Duignan allowed Leitrim a route back into the game but Leitrim's midfield dominance in the opening half was unable to be transferred into scores. However to Leitrim's credit they refused to buckle and responded with a goal of their own on 25 minutes though a fine Declan Maxwell effort who hit an unstoppable shot past Galway custodian Paul Doherty. Galway rallied through a fine individual effort from midfielder and Annaghdown clubman Niall Coleman. It could have got better for the men from Leitrim when Donal Brennan was denied what looked to be a certain penalty after he was brought to the ground by Galway goalkeeper Doherty. Man of the match contender Emlyn Mulligan kept Leitrim in touch with another free and Nicky Joyce converted a point following a fine solo effort just before the break. At half time Galway led on a scoreline of 1-8 to 1-6. The second half opened brightly with Mulligan and Meehan trading points to leaver the score line 1-10 to 1-7 in favour of the tribesmen. A Declan Maxwell effort reduced Leitrim's arrears to just two points with just a little over 15 minutes remaining. Leitrim then reduced Galway's advantage to the minimum through a fine free kick from Mulligan. However this was as good as it was going to get for Leitrim and disaster struck for the Leitrim men in the 55th minute when substitute Cormac Bane was on the receiving end of a fine pass from Michael Meehan to coolly slot the ball beneath the despairing dive of Leitrim goalkeeper Enda Lyons. This effectively ended the game as a contest and further scores from the trusty boot of Michael Meehan and Padraig Joyce gave the tribes men a six point lead with full time fast approaching. Leitrim to be fair never wilted and further points from Emlyn Mulligan put a fairer reflection on the final scoreline. So in the end it was the tribesmen who progressed to yet another Connacht final appearance where they will face either Sligo or Mayo.
Scorers:
Padraig Joyce 1.04, Cormac bane 1.02, Michael Meehan
0.04, Nicky Joyce 0.02, Matthew Clancy 0.01.Niall
Coleman 0.01.
Team Lineout: Padraig Doherty Tuam Stars, Gareth
Bradshaw Moycullen, Finian Hanley Salthill Knocknacarra,
Damien Burke Corofin, Declan Meehan Caltra, Gary Sice
Corofin, Damian Mullany Miltown, Mark Lydon Moycullen,
Niall Coleman Annaghdown, Paul Conroy St James, Padraig
Joyce Killereran, Nicky Joyce Killereran, Matthew Clancy
Ourchorrd, Michael Meehan Caltra, Fiachra Breaneach
Michael Breaneach's.
Subs used: Barry Cullinane Claregalway, Cormac Bane
Caherlistrane, Michael Comer Corofin, Sean Armstrong
Salthill Knocknacarra.
