Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Two goal Kelly hero for Tribe
Connacht U21 football final SUB Sean Kelly hit two goals in extra-time to clinch the Connacht U-21 title for Galway.
A penalty from Kyle Cawley forced extra-time after a pulsating hour, but Kelly’s goals and a couple of Robert Finnerty points finally gave Galway the win at Markevicz Park.
A bright start including a goal from Alan McLoughlin looked to have put Sligo on the road to the win, but a powerful second-half and their dominance extra-time edged it for the Tribesmen.
Three stunning first half minutes from the home side put them in total control. Cawley tapped over a point, before Patrick O’Connor scored well from distance, but McLoughlin’s goal in the 22nd minute was a key score after Cawley again did the real damage.
It was relentless from Sligo at that stage, and Galway looked a beaten team, but three points in added-time gave them hope as they only trailed 1-7 to 0-5 at the break.
Michael Daly’s goal three minutes after the break gave Galway another boost and a Kelly point levelled the game moments later, but three scores from the home side thanks to O’Connor (2) and McLoughlin gave Sligo the lead again, only for Galway’s purple patch to give them a 1-14 to 1-10 lead.
Cawley’s penalty forced extra-time, which was the least Sligo deserved, but they ran out of steam and ideas in the final 20 minutes as O’Connor saw red at the death.