California-bound Matthew Thompson lashed home 2-06 as Galway overcame Leitrim by 11 points in Tuam to book their spot in next week’s FBD League decider.
2025 Young Footballer of the Year nominee Thompson will be out of action for the entirety of the league and the early part of the championship, with Padraic Joyce confirming that the Salthill-Knocknacarra players is studying in Berkeley for the upcoming semester.
He was the leading figure on a largely experimental Galway side – which also contained Cian Hernon and Kieran Molloy – as they came from three points down at half-time to beat Leitrim.
Thompson buried a goal in the top corner in the first half but the Connacht champions trailed Leitrim at the break, Killian Gaffney proving effective from placed balls, while Ryan O’Rourke and Jack Kelly also landed points.
Galway manager Padraic Joyce remonstrates with the referee over a decision
However, with Thompson converting a second half penalty, Galway eased home after the interval, with 10 different scorers overall as they ran out 2-19 to 0-14 winners.
After two rounds of the FBD League, the top two progress to next week’s final, with Galway facing the winner of tomorrow’s Roscommon-Mayo tie.
In Leinster, Westmeath have booked their spot in the O’Byrne Cup final after an 11-point win over Offaly in a goal-fest in Mullingar.
Mark McHugh’s side advanced ahead of reigning champions Longford following a coin toss last Saturday but they impressed on the field of play this afternoon.
A brace of goals apiece from Danny McCarton and Brandon Kelly, plus another from Senan Baker saw them run out 5-10 to 2-08 winners.
Ciaran Murphy scored two goals either side of half-time to pull the visitors back into the contest, the margin being briefly reduced to three points 11 minutes into the second half.
However, an unanswered burst of 3-02 over the next 15 minutes saw the hosts settle the contest in an emphatic manner.
They will face the winners of this evening’s Kildare-Dublin semi-final in Newbridge in the final, that game throwing in at 5pm.