GAA Championship: All today’s hurling and football action as it happened

Frank Roche at Pearse Stadium:

Call it a Galway statement of intent, or a timid Roscommon submission in Salthill – take your pick.

This Connacht semi-final mismatch was every bit as lopsided as the final nine-point margin suggests.

Everyone in the official attendance of 10,573 knew long before Céin D’Arcy lamped the ball into touch after the hooter that this was going only one way.

Galway were utterly dominant, their control of the contest predicated by complete supremacy of the kickout skies with John Maher and D’Arcy taking it in turns to claim an abundance of restarts and set the hosts on their way.

Roscommon’s response – bar some lively incisions by Ben O’Carroll in the first half and three second half two-pointers from Ciaráin Murtagh, his brother Diarmuid and Donie Smith – was sporadic at best.

Rob Finnerty was later named as RTÉ’s Man of the Match, due recognition of his impressive point-taking as he amassed 0-8, six from play. In truth, though, Maher was every bit as influential with an excellent support cast from Paul Conroy (with 0-5 in the first half, including a brace of two-pointers), D’Arcy, Cillian McDaid and Dylan McHugh.

Even though Galway had the first half breeze, it was far more benign than the usual Salthill gale and this certainly wasn’t the main factor in the hosts’ fully deserved eight-point cushion, 1-12 to 0-7.

Put bluntly, far too many of Roscommon’s main men were labouring badly in direct opposition to their western rivals.

O’Carroll was the only Rossie forward making any headway (against Johnny McGrath) whereas Galway were on top at midfield and punching holes in myriad positions up front.

The visitors would have been happy enough to tie the first quarter, at 0-4 apiece, but they were always struggling once Matthew Tierney pounced for the only goal in the 19th minute, taking full advantage after Seán Kelly’s fisted point-attempted rebound off the upright into his path.

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