Galway 1-11
Derry 0-8
Galway booked their spot in round 4 of the All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers on Saturday afternoon, with a hard fought win over Derry.
Wet and windy conditions in Pearse Stadium didn't hamper either side too much, with both sides opting to play defensive and possession based football.
Danny Cummins provided a moment of brilliance nine minutes before time to secure Galway safe passage with the only goal of the game.
Derry built up a 0-3 to 0-0 lead after eight minutes, thanks to scores from Eoin Bradley, Benny Heron and Danny Heavron and looked to be making the most of their decision to play against the wind in the opening period.
But despite having the lion's share of possession, Galway were the more clinical of the two sides and in particular Gary Sice who put on a tremendous shooting display.
A Benny Heron point cut the gap to two points, but a superb Gareth Bradshaw score handed Galway their first score from play, and an 0-8 to 0-5 interval lead.
Heavron and Cailean O’Boyle cut the gap to the just a point after 42 minutes, and both sides exchanged a number of wides in the last 15 minutes of the second period.
It was Cummins who proved decisive, though, when a well-worked team move was finished off with a thunderous shot sent right into the roof of the net.
Galway's incisive play and work off the ball proved the difference on the day, a result which Derry won't be able to bemoan too much.
Scorers for Galway: G Sice (0-7, 7f), P Conroy (0-2, 2f), D Cummins (1-0), G O’Donnell (0-1), G Bradshaw (0-1)
Scorers for Derry: B Heron (0-2, 2f), D Heavron (0-3),C O’Boyle (0-1), E Bradley (0-1), N Forrester (0-1)
Galway: B O’Donoghue; J Duane, F Hanley, C Sweeney; L Silke, G O’Donnell (0-1), G Bradshaw (0-1); F Ó Curraoin, T Flynn; G Sice (0-7, 7f), P Conroy (0-2, 2f), M Lundy; P Óg Ó Griofa, D Comer, D Cummins (1-0).
Subs: P Sweeney for Ó Gríofa (46); S Walsh for Conroy (65); S Denvir for Lundy (69); A Varley for Comer (69); for Cummins (Black 73).
Derry: T Mallon; O Duffy, B Rogers, D McBride; L McGoldrick, C McKaigue, SL McGoldrick; N Holly, F Doherty; B Heron (0-2, 2f), M Lynch, E Lynn; D Heavron (0-3), E Bradley (0-1), C O’Boyle (0-1).
Subs: N McKaigue for Rogers (Black 29); E McGuckin for Lynch (HT); P Bradley for Holly (53); M McIver for L McGoldrick (53); N Forrester (0-1) for Lynn (60); C Murphy for Heavron (Black 69).
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