Rob Finnerty shines as Galway prove too good for Leitrim in FBD Connacht League

Connacht FBD League Galway 3-21 Leitrim 1-13

All-Ireland finalists Galway began 2023 with a 14-point win over Leitrim to set up a FBD Connacht League semi-final clash with Mayo.

Pádraic Joyce's side fielded five of the side that lost to Kerry in last July Sam Maguire showdown, with Rob Finnerty top-scoring with 2-07 at the Connacht Air Dome in Bekan.

The game saw the return of former All Star Ian Burke for his first outing in the maroon jersey since the 2020 Connacht final. He chipped in with 1-01 and also set up the game's opening goal for Finnerty on eight minutes. The latter's second goal came from the penalty spot on 56 minutes.

The Tribes led by 2-12 by 0-05 at the interval but Leitrim were much more competitive after the break. Keith Beirne led their scoring charge with 0-10, with Barry McNulty raising a green flag shortly after the break when set up by Jack Heslin.

Changes were plentiful on both sides, with veteran Paul Conroy, who first saw action for Galway in 2008, coming on in place of Matthew Tierney on 53 minutes.

Galway's semi-final date against Mayo is on 14 January, two weeks out from the their Division 1 meeting at Hastings MacHale Park, a match that will be broadcast live on RTÉ2 television.