Claregalway defy the odds

CLAREGALWAY played two games in almost one full day last weekend, and in the most unlikely and incredible of circumstances, they came out the right side of the result in both matches. It simply could not have been scripted.

Against Williamstown in the Galway Intermediate Football final on Saturday in Pearse Stadium they won by three points, and then on Sunday in Markievicz Park against Sligo side St John's, they were victorious by two in a Connacht semi-final.
The player eligibility saga involving Oileáin Árann and Williamstown was finally resolved last week, allowing the County final to go ahead.
Despite a brave second half revival, Williamstown's ten-point half-time deficit proved too large an obstacle to overcome in Salthill. In the circumstances, it was hard not to feel for the Williamstown players and management given the joy they've provided to their local community in this year's championship.
Claregalway didn’t get an immediate opportunity to celebrate a return to senior football since their demotion in 2012, since they were soon in Sligo in the pitch again. Despite the concession of an early major, Claregalway kept within the coattails of St John's, and a second half goal from Danny Cummins helped propel them to a stirring victory on Sunday afternoon.
They used 22 players across both days, and the net result of Claregalway's double triumph is a Connacht Intermediate final clash to come on Sunday November 19 against the Ballinlough-Cloonfad-Granlahan club of Michael Glaveys in Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon.

Read our full coverage in this week's edition of The Tuam Herald