Matthew Tierney terrific as Galway overcome Sligo to retain Connacht SFC crown

Matthew Tierney gave one of the finest exhibitions of scoring in a Connacht final as holders Galway powered to an expected victory against a determined but outclassed Sligo at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar.

Wing-forward Tierney bagged a superb 2-07, including two well-taken first-half goals, as Padraic Joyce's Galway won by 14 points, 2-20 to 0-12.

Both teams progress to the All-Ireland series, with Galway, obviously, amongst the favourites for the Sam Maguire Cup.

The curtain-raiser at the Castlebar venue saw Mayo defeat Galway in the TG4 Connacht LGFA Senior Championship. Before the main event the Galway team that won senior provincial and All-Ireland honours in 1998 were honoured.

Galway were overwhelming favourites to secure a 49th Nestor Cup especially given their recent pedigree – runners-up in last year's All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and Allianz Football League Division One finalists earlier this year.

Sligo, who lost by 13 points to Galway when the counties last met in the championship in 2019, could at least take some inspiration from 2007 when, as underdogs, they overcame Galway in the provincial decider.

Sligo have made an encouraging start to the Connacht SFC final with Pat Spillane Jr scoring this excellent point to make the first impression on the scoreboard