Michael Meehan return is a big boost for Alan Mulholland

By NOEL CARNEY Galway ...............................0-16 NUI Galway ..........................0-6 A COMFORTABLE WIN for Galway in the opening round of the FBD Connacht League at Tuam Stadium on Sunday but a very disappointing showing from NUIG who need to step up considerably on this performance if they are to make any real challenge in the forthcoming Sigerson Cup campaign. To add to the students' woes, they lost centre half-back Robbie Kiely, a Tipperary senior player, on a straight red card at the start of the second half. It left them with a mountain to climb in this game as they were already 0-7 to 0-3 in arrears and facing a Galway side that was then starting to play into the town end and the 'scoring goal.' It was strange to see a Galway team lining out without either Joe Bergin or Padraic Joyce. On the plus side, it was great to see Michael Meehan who has been dogged by a succession of injuries in recent years back in harness and looking quite sharp after all he has been through. In fairness, all the Galway players on view are to be commended as they seemed very lively for the time of year and they certainly have kept up their fitness over the winter months thus far. Eoin Concannon is another player who was making a comeback after a long lay-off through injury and he kicked a super point after being introduced during the second half. Galway's management trio, Alan Mulholland and selectors Alan Flynn and Donal Ó Fátharta, will be pleased enough with the showing but the manager was right to play down the performance afterwards â€â€ given the time of year, the conditions and the fact that it was not a high tempo contest. He has the tricky job of doing enough to win games and try out new players at the same time and he did well with the balancing act on this occasion. He started with four senior debutants in Conor Costello (Claregalway), Anthony 'Toto' Griffin (Leitir Mór), John O'Brien (Clifden) and Seán Denvir (Mícheál Breathnachs). He later sent on another newcomer, Shane Walsh (Kilkerrin-Clonberne). All five are entitled to hope for more action in the competition as they strive to make an impression before the Allianz League commences. Goalkeeper Maghnus Breathnach (An Spidéal) was fronted by a full-back line that had all seen action in maroon jerseys before. None of them let the side down but stiffer tests await where they too can stake a claim for places later on in the year. Given Galway's disappointing fade-out in last year's Championship, there should be some changes throughout the field this year and many places are there for the taking. Gary Sice, Gareth Bradshaw, Niall Coleman, Michael Meehan and Paul Conroy ensured there was a vein of experience running through the team while Michael Martin and Danny Cummins, who both saw League action last year, worked hard and they will be pushing for inclusion when the best fifteen is fielded. Cummins buzzed from start to finish while Martin was equally industrious and finished with three excellent scores from play including one from beyond the 45-metre line. Apart from the result and two FBD points, the main bonus for Galway was the display of Michael Meehan who made an impact from the word go. He won and converted a free to set his team on their way early on, later drove over a 45 and then notched another from a free in the first half and was always working hard and bringing others into the game. He got a fourth score after the break and was deservedly given a rousing ovation when he was called ashore. Danny Cummins and Paul Conroy also scored in the early stages and Michael Martin fisted one to complete Galway's first-half 0-6 but they also kicked six wides and dropped three efforts into the hands of NUIG goalkeeper Donal O'Sullivan, so the students were still in touch despite having been outplayed and restricted to a mere 0-3 from Ian Galvin, Conor Walsh and Fiachra Ó Deasmhunaigh. Within 15 seconds of the re-start the leaders widened the gap with sensible Route One football. Niall Coleman, who had a fine second half, drove long and high into the goalmouth where Paul Conroy applied the knockdown to Michael Martin who although seemingly off balance still managed to steer the ball deftly between the uprights. Worse was to follow for NUIG when Robbie Kiely foolishly got sent off for a challenge on Paul Conroy. In fairness to the College side they did rally and tried hard to make a real fight of it even though they fell 0-8 to 0-3 behind when Michael Meehan lofted one over with his right foot from the right wing. Garrymore's Shane Nally cut the deficit with a sweetly struck free but a Galway attack that started with a great piece of fielding by Niall Coleman was broken up and it led to a fine score at the other end by former county minor captain Éinne Ó hEochaigh. He then discovered that while he was kicking the ball the electronic board was being raised to tell him he was being replaced. They could only add one more point (from Kerryman Ian Galvin who helped sink Galway with a goal when the sides met last year) from there to the finish while Alan Mulholland's men easily closed out the result as they went forward in waves as they played into the town end with a strong wind at their backs. Encouragingly for Galway their subs were very much to the fore as they sealed victory: Seán Armstrong (0-2 and he nearly got another from his three shots at goal), Eoin Concannon (0-1) and Shane Walsh (0-1) all featured on the score-sheet and worked hard, while Micheál Boyle and Gary O'Donnell also made the most of their opportunities. Not a bad show at all from the team and management and good entertainment for the few hundred spectators who turned up. Four Galway natives, Joss Moore, Gary Sweeney, Conor Halloran and Éinne Ó hEochaigh, started for College and all did their bit in trying to turn a powerful tide while a fifth, Ciarán O'Donnell, joined them in the second half. The winners will meet Sligo IT next Sunday at Tuam Stadium while the students, who were short a number of players including Mayo's Cathal Freeman, will try to get back on track against Kevin Walsh's Sligo in Tourlestrane. Galway: M. Breathnach (An Spidéal); D. O'Neill (Cortoon Shamrocks), D. Finnegan (Cortoon Shamrocks), C. Forde (Killererin); C. Costello (Claregalway, 0-1), G. Sice (Corofin), G. Bradshaw (Moycullen); A. Griffin (Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir), N. Coleman (Annaghdown); J. O'Brien (Clifden, 0-1), M. Martin (Milltown, 0-3), S. Denvir (Micheál Breathnachs); M. Meehan (Caltra, 0-4, 0-2 frees, one 45), P. Conroy (St. James's, 0-2), D. Cummins (Claregalway, 0-1). Subs: S. Walsh (Kilkerrin-Clonberne, 0-1) for Cummins, E. Concannon (St. James's, 0-1) for O'Brien, M. Boyle (Killererin) for Denvir, G. O'Donnell (Tuam Stars) for Griffin, S. Armstrong (Salthill-Knocknacarra, 0-2), for Meehan. NUIG: D. O'Sullivan (Limerick); K. Moynagh (Cavan), J. Moore (Mountbellew-Moylough), C. McDonald (Tipperary); G. Sweeney (Mountbellew-Moylough), R. Kiely (Tipperary), C. Halloran (Salthill-Knocknacarra); E. Ó hÉochaigh (An Spidéal, 0-1), S. Moran (Leitrim); S. Nally (Mayo, 0-1, free), F. Ó Deasmhunaigh (Cork, 0-1), C. Walsh (Mayo, 0-1); I. Galvin (Kerry, 0-2), K. Murtagh (Roscommon), C. Brennan (Sligo). Subs: D. Gavin (Mayo) for Moynagh, K. Crowe (Mayo) for Ó hEochaigh, C. O' Donnell (Galway) for Halloran, J. Egan for Brennan, E. Troy for Moran. Referee: James Molloy (Salthill-Knocknacarra). Herald Sport Man of the Match: Michael Meehan (Galway).