Shortly after 9:30 pm on Saturday, 25 October, David Wynne and Sean Kelly mounted the steps of the stand in Pearse Stadium; Sean, to receive a man-of-the-match award, and David, to lift the Frank Fox Cup on behalf of Maigh Cuilinn. Sean had given one of his finest performances in the green and white in the sixty-odd minutes of action on the field. David, who had played a captain’s part in the game, really came into his own when he had the microphone in his hand; his acceptance speech hit all the right notes and has been commented on far and wide in the aftermath of the game.
His tribute to the late Don Connellan brought many a tear to the eye, but it was no less than Don deserved. By inviting the young supporters to help raise the cup, David ensured that this special night would remain long in the memory, not just in the minds of those looking on, but for the youngsters who idolise the team. It will possibly inspire the next generation of heroes to wear the green and white of Maigh Cuilinn.
The County final marked the end of a very successful campaign in both league and championship. Maigh Cuilinn had played fifteen games, nine in the league and six in the championship, without tasting defeat in any match, winning thirteen and drawing two. In the league, we had victories over Caherlistrane, Barna, Killanin, Annaghdown, Micheal Breathnachs and Monivea, while drawing with Leitir Mór. That run of games saw Maigh Cuilinn advance to the league semi-final, where they had a comprehensive victory over Monivea, before accounting for Leitir Mór in the final. That final saw a large number of younger players take the field, but they proved too strong for the lads from Leitir Mór.
In the championship, we got off to the best possible start. On 3 August, we recorded a victory over our neighbours Barna on a scoreline of 1-21 to 0-8. Two weeks later, Maigh Cuilinn again emerged victorious over near neighbours Killanin on a scoreline of 3-17 to 1-16. With progression to the next stage of the championship assured, all we needed was a draw against St James’s to top the group. That game ended all square at thirteen points apiece.
Oughterard, managed by Diarmuid Lee of this parish, would be our next opponents. Our lads emerged winners on a scoreline of 2-19 to 2-12. Tuam Stars were next up in an eventful semi-final with Maigh Cuilinn coming out on top by the minimum, 0-18 to 1-14. Salthill overcame Corofin in the other semi-final, setting up the showdown that enthralled both those in attendance and those who streamed the game.
This final was our sixth appearance in the centrepiece of Galway club action. Four of those appearances had taken place in the previous six seasons, with Maigh Cuilinn winning two, in 2020 and 2022. We had fallen to Corofin in the last two finals. Had Maigh Cuilinn failed to emerge victorious, they would have been the first team to lose three county finals in a row since the 1940s, when Tuam Stars earned that dubious honour.
And so, we come to the final itself, and what a final. Full of incident, hard-hitting but fair, bookended by scores from the man of the match, Sean Kelly.
Barely 22 seconds had elapsed when the ball was nestling in the Salthill net following a powerhouse start from Maigh Cuilinn. Ger Davoren broke the ball from the throw-in to Niall Walsh, who was fouled. Following a series of passes, the ball came to Sean Kelly, and he took off, beating three players before powering the ball to the net. Fionn McDonagh added to the Moycullen tally.
At the other end, Pierce Greally pulled off a smart save from a Tommo Culhane flick. Pierce was again to the fore on six minutes, plucking the ball from over the crossbar. Moments later, Dessie Conneely added the first two-pointer of the evening to the scoreboard. Dessie would repeat this feat later when the game was in the melting pot, but more of that anon.
Johnny Maloney and Paul Kelly added further to our total before Salthill staged a rally. Matthew Thompson pointed before a penalty for Salthill eluded Pierce’s best efforts to squirm into the net. Game on, sides level.
Moments earlier, Peter Cooke had entered the fray, replacing Ger Davoren, who would later return to considerable effect in the second half.
Peter’s first effort was merely a sighter; he followed up with two efforts which resulted in an orange flag to stretch Maigh Cuilinn’s advantage to four. From there to the short whistle, Maigh Cuilinn outscored the opposition by two points to one, Sean Kelly and Fionn adding singles. Our wides tally for the first half was seven, but leading at halftime by five, many wondered if the margin would be enough to ensure victory. Our team was certainly full of intent, leaving the pitch at half-time.
Salthill started the second half with great intensity, but three wides in quick succession blunted their dominance. Six minutes had elapsed in the second half before Salthill found the posts with a single, cutting the gap between the sides to four. This would be halved minutes later following an orange flag from a Finnerty effort. We then enjoyed greater parity around the middle following the reintroduction of Ger Davoren on 46 minutes. But still Salthill came back to considerable effect, and they gained the lead with nine minutes remaining.
The Maigh Cuilinn management deserves considerable praise for their substitutions. The introduction of Ger Davoren and later James McLoughlin, replacing Sean O’Connor, who had an incredible 50 minutes on the field, added to our power around the middle. Dessie pulled the sides level with minutes remaining in normal time before adding his second two-pointer of the evening just before the clock went into the red. Finnerty added another to leave the minimum between the sides before Sean Kelly capped a memorable performance, driving over off his left boot to end the scoring for the evening. Salthill had two fruitless efforts at two-pointers, and as Chris Ryan, the referee, blew for full time, Fionn McDonagh had possession of the ball.
Success has many parents. Cathal Clancy and his management team can lay considerable claim in this regard, as can the late Don Connellan, a fact that was so eloquently acknowledged by both David and Sean in post-match interviews. Many others deserve credit. Maigh Cuilinn have contested five of the last six county finals, winning three of them.
Club officers, coaches at the underage and adult levels, have all contributed to this success, as have the players’ parents and families. But ultimately, it is the players who have brought this success. They find a way to win. They push themselves through hard, wet nights in Bailedotia, they forego the nights out with their mates, they find a way! On the night, all the players to a man stood tall; they defended with tenacity and attacked with venom. They gave us one hell of a night to remember!
Team and subs: (1) Pierce Greally, (18) Aidan Claffey, (3) Michael Moughan, (6) Eoghan Kelly, (7) Seán O’Connor, (17) Seán Kelly, (5) David Wynne (Capt.), (8) Paul Kelly, (21) Tom Clarke, (10) Johnny Moloney, (11) Niall Walsh, (22) Gerard Davoren, (13) Fionn McDonagh, (14) Fiachra McDonagh, (15) Dessie Conneely, (2) Conor Corcoran, (4) Eoin McGuire, (9) Padraig Faherty, (12) Charlie Cox, (16) Marcus Ó Neachtain, (19) Mark Hynes, (20) Mark Bradley, (23) Cillian Gallagher, Gallagher, (24) Luke McLoughlin, (25) Marc Beatty, (26) Conor Langan-Monaghan, (27) Peter Cooke, (28) John O’Sullivan, (29) Neil Mulcahy, (30) James McLoughlin.
Management Team
Manager: Cathal Clancy.
Selectors: Kieran Murphy, Brian Roache, James Faherty, Henry Lydon.
Stats: Gavin Ryan. Physio: James O’Toole. Kitmen: Ian Kenny and Gabriel Collins. Psychologist: Caroline Currid.
Postscript
In the first round of the Connacht club championship, Maigh Cuilinn overcame Shamrock Gaels from Sligo by an 11-point margin. The game was notable for a few reasons. Dessie Conneely contributed 1-10, an extraordinary contribution. Dessie has been the leading scorer in the Galway club championship in four of the last six seasons.
Also worthy of note is that team captain David Wynne scored a point in the home of Tubbercurry where his father Ollie secured two county titles in the 1980s. Ollie was presented with a jersey from Tubbercurry club president, Mrs Murphy, to mark his contribution to Tubbercurry. Onwards we go.
Seán Gibbons
