Galway took home the All-Ireland GAA Minor Football title this evening, defeating bitter rivals Mayo by a score of 0-15 to 0-9.
It was an impressive and dominant performance by the Tribesmen and they lead for the majority of the match at Dr. Hyde Park.
Mayo came into the final having already beaten Galway twice en route to the Connacht GAA Minor Football title, and were looking to take home the All-Ireland GAA Minor Football title for the eighth time.
Galway had been beaten by their western rivals 1-15 to 0-04 earlier in the season, but only lost by six points in their next meeting. The Tribesmen were aiming to match Mayo's haul and claim their seventh All-Ireland GAA Minor Football trophy.
The first half began at a rather frantic pace with both teams squandering good goal chances. Galway keeper Kyle Gilmore made a nice stop to deny James Maheady, before Galway broke downfield and missed a good chance of their own. Stephen Curley had got behind the Mayo defence but was unable to control the football.
Éanna Monaghan got the first point of the evening after converting a free-kick and doubled their lead soon after with another free.
8 July 2022; GAA : Jack Lonergan of Galway in action against Diarmuid Duffy of Mayo during the Electric Ireland GAA Football All-Ireland Minor Championship Final match between Galway and Mayo at Dr Hyde Park in Roscommon. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Cathal Keaveney got Mayo off the mark with a free of his own before James Maheady got the first points from play as he drew the sides level.
The first half followed a similar pattern for the next 12 minutes, with both sides trading points. A few of Mayo's points were particularly excellent with Maheady and Ronan Clarke showing their class.
Galway then saw themselves pull ahead by three points at 0-8 to 0-5, courtesy of two points from Colm Costello and a score from Stephen Curley.
Mayo got the much needed last point of the half through Colm McHale, with the score 0-8 to 0-6 at halftime.
Galway brought their first-half dominance right back out of the dressing rooms and scored the first point of the second 30 through a fine strike from distant from Shay McGlinchey.
They kicked the next two points, and Mayo were not far off panic station mode at five points down with just 20 minutes remaining.
8 July 2022; GAA ; Ross Coen of Galway in action against Diarmuid Duffy of Mayo during the Electric Ireland GAA Football All-Ireland Minor Championship Final match between Galway and Mayo at Dr Hyde Park in Roscommon. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
They did manage a mini-comeback when Ronan Clarke fired over their first points of the second half after 43 minutes, before sending over a free-kick soon after.
However, it did not phase Galway in the slightest and they began to pile on the pressure and the points, before it soon became apparent that a Mayo comeback would not be on the cards.
Cillian Trayers, Charlie Cox, and Colm Costello were among the scorers as they raced into a 0-15 to 0-8 lead.
Mayo's luck alluded them as they saw Liam Maloney's shot hit the post, while Lorcan Silke was black-carded for a foul on Vinny Gill.
Galway saw out the remaining minutes quite comfortably to win with a final score of 0-15 to 0-9, before wild scenes ensued in Roscommon.
Captain Éanna Monaghan lifted the trophy and delivered a classy speech. However, he had to stop himself and apologies as he described Mayo as "some fucking team".
"They're some team, play you any day of the week," Monaghan continued. "Thanks to the referee and the linesmen, great job today at the game, lovely day for football and you made a marvelous day out of it. I'd like to that all the squad, all the boys all year, for giving their all since January.
"And just the work that they've put in coming through the loss in Connacht and to come out the other side and win it, just beautiful. I'd like to thank Pat, Ian and Greg in Tuam for keeping the place lovely for us in training towards the end of the year there. Playing games there was class, it's where you want to be when you're playing Galway football.
"I'd like to thank Aoife and Eoghan and everyone else in Loughgeorge for keeping it also for us when we were tearing it up there in January playing challenge matches."
Tomás Farthing was awarded the man-of-the-match.
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