Cork U20 footballers beat Galway thanks to Michael Maguire goal

Cork 1-7 Galway 0-8 

A win for the Cork U20 footballers at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday afternoon, as they continue their build-up to championship in April.

With their preparations made more difficult with the divisional U21 competitions on Leeside, this was a useful workout for the young Rebels, who are under the management of Ray O'Mahony and coached by Michael O'Brien, the last two Cork minor managers. 

Ultimately a Michael Maguire goal was the difference after a tight contest where the selectors looked at their options, while a number of the panel was unavailable through club commitments and injuries.

The home side got the opening score of this contest courtesy of a point from Michael Maguire in the opening minute, with Galway responding with a Colm Costello score. 

Shortly afterward, Hugh O’Connor put the finishing touches to slot over following a well-worked passing move, with Timmy Cullinane also putting the ball successfully over the bar in the opening ten minutes.

Galway responded and got a score from a pointed free by Sean Birmingham on the quarter of an hour mark as they looked to start motoring.

However, with 18 minutes played on the clock, Cork found the back of the net. 

As the ball broke into his path after crashing off the upright, Maguire was on hand to slot the ball home neatly from close range, as the Rebels led at this stage 1-4 to 0-2.

A Matthew Thompson free for Galway reduced the deficit from a Galway point of view. But at the halftime break, it was Cork who were fully deserving of their advantage with the score at 1-5 to 0-3.

Thompson got the scoring up and running in the second half for Galway from a free, with Fionn MacDonncha reducing the deficit between the teams down to just three points.

On 43 minutes Cork responded through a score by O’Herlihy from a placed ball, with Galway getting another point back from a mark by Fionn MacDonncha.

The Galway surge of momentum continued as the second half progressed, with Conor Heneghan and Thompson adding to the efforts of the West Of Ireland side.

With the game heading into the final ten minutes, Hugh O’Connor slotted over another Cork point.

Galway ensured there was to be a grandstand finish when Heneghan added to the scoring tally for his side.

The home side ultimately saw the contest out of a winning conclusion, as the Rebels continue building towards their championship voyage commencing in mid-April.

Cork will keep their preparations going in two weeks when they face off against Kildare in another challenge game that is fixed for SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Scorers for Cork: M Maguire 1-1, H O’Connor 0-3 (0-1 f), L O’Herlihy 0-2 f, T Cullinane 0-1.

Galway: M Thompson (0-1 f), F MacDonncha, C Heneghan 0-2 each, C Costello, S Birmingham 0-1 each.

CORK: M O’Connell (St Michael’s); D Twomey (Glanworth), S O’Connell (Kilshannig), F Leahy (St Michael’s); S Copps (Mallow), D Buckley (Douglas), G Daly (Mallow); M McSweeney (Knocknagree), D O’Brien (Glanworth); A O’Sullivan (Aghabullogue), H O’Connor (Newmarket), R O’Shaughnessy (St Michael’s); T Cullinane (Carbery Rangers), L O’Herlihy (St Michael’s), M Maguire (Castlehaven).

Subs: R Kavanagh (St Michael’s) for McSweeney (42), A Kelleher (St Colum’s) for O’Connell, A Mannix (Dohenys) for O’Connell (both 47), J Kennedy for O’Shaughnessy (49), D Clifford (Éire Óg) for O’Herlihy, D Gough (Clonakilty) for Cullinane (both 52), J O’Neill (Castlehaven) for O’Sullivan (58).

GALWAY: E McGrath; B Mitchell, P Godwin, B Noone; J Folan, J Lonergan, S O’Connor; S Hansberry, R Kavanagh; C Mulhern, M Thompson, R Colleran; C Costello, S Birmingham, F MacDonncha.

Subs: C Heneghan for Colleran, S Canavan for Folan (both HT), C Murphy for Hansberry (42), C Greaney for O’Connor (47), K Mitchell for Colleran, E Brady for Noone (both 55).

Referee: Robert Whelan (Gleann na Laoi)