TACKLE . . . GMIT's Paddy Mc Grath breaks away from Galway's Niall Coleman during Sunday's FBD League clash in Spiddal. Photo: Reg Gordon.

Galway 3-9
GMIT 0-10

Padraic Joyce will miss the start of the national league after being harshly dismissed as Galway qualified for the final of the FBD League at Spiddal on Sunday.

Joyce, making his first appearance of the year, was given a red card by Galway referee Pat McGovern after 21 minutes for a challenge on GMIT's Rory McTiernan.

Moments earlier McTiernan had been booked for a late tackle on Michael Comer, which forced the Galway corner-back to go off.

The crowd of several hundred at the south Connemara venue were surprised by the dismissal in a game where five players were booked but which was well-contested rather than dirty.

Galway, playing with the slight wind, looked to be in trouble following Joyce's dismissal as they trailed by 0-3 to 0-2 but the introduction of Michael Meehan swung the game in favour of Liam Sammon's men.

Meehan set up Joyce's cousin Nicky for a 25th minute goal before landing a point from a 45 metres free to give them a 1-4 to 0-4 interval lead.

Mayo U-21 Michael Conroy landed two frees for GMIT in the opening but they struggled to prise open a resolute Galway defence.

The introduction of Joe Bergin saw Galway take control in midfield where Paul Geraghty was impressive throughout and they pulled away when Meehan slotted home a 44th minute goal after a superb long pass from Bergin.

Meehan again turned provider for Gary Sice to find the net with six minutes remaining with GMIT reducing the deficit with three points from Galway minor star Michael Martin.

Galway will now meet NUIG in the FBD League final on February 24.

Galway: P Doherty; D Finnegan, F Hanley, M Comer; A Burke, D Blake, G O'Donnell; B Cullinane, P Geraghty (0-1); P Joyce (0-1, free), F Breathnach (0-2), D Meehan; D Ward, N Coleman, N Joyce (1-0).
Subs: G Sice (1-0) for Comer, inj. 20 mins; M Meehan (1-3, 0-1 free, 0-1 45) for Ward, 24 mins; J Bergin for Cullinane, half-time; C Bane (0-2, one free) for N Joyce, 45 mins; K Fitzgerald for O'Donnell, 56 mins.

GMIT: D Dowd; D Vaughan, S Walsh, N Darby; C Garvey, R McTiernan, P McGrath; K Conroy, T Hughes; J Hayes, P McGinley, P Conroy (0-1); M Martin (0-4, three frees, one 45), W Fallon, M Conroy (0-3, two frees).
Subs: S Griffin (0-1) for Fallon, 41 mins; D Hogan for McGrath, 43 mins; C Glynn for T Hughes, 46 mins; E Concannon for P Conroy, 52 mins; S Hughes for McTiernan, 55 mins.

Referee: P McGovern (Galway).

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