Sports
Galway minor team defy the odds in earning replay
Galway 2-20
Kilkenny 0-26
A team with backbone always stands a chance unless they are corralled against a vastly superior force. Last Sunday at Croke Park, the Galway minor hurlers twice looked a beaten docket only to somehow extricate themselves on each occasion with a never-say-die attitude not often witnessed at this level.
Normally, minor teams are more about skill than guts, but the defiant young Tribesmen bucked that theory with a display laced with heart and resilience, characteristics which helped them to reel in the reigning champions Kilkenny both in normal time and extra time of a fluctuating and exciting All-Ireland semi-final.
The reward for Galway is a replay against the Cats at the same venue this Sunday (12noon) and they won’t be fazed at the prospect either, especially after rallying from six points down in extra time to rescue the game for a second time having earlier also appeared in dire trouble midway through the second half.
Though Galway deservedly led by 0-10 to 0-8 at the interval, they conceded five points on the trot in a scoreless third quarter for Jeffrey Lynskey’s charges. Kilkenny, with midfielder Richie Leahy a towering figure, were now in the driving seat but were unable to close the deal due to the opposition’s spirit.
In reality, defeat for either team would have proven rough justice on the day. Though the match has its valley periods and it took a while to catch fire, ultimately the dramatic finishes to both normal and extra time more than compensated, but Galway would have no replay to look forward to only for centre forward Thomas Monaghan.
It was the Craughwell clubman’s 48th minute goal which revived an ailing Galway, but he arguably did even better subsequently when somehow nailing the equaliser from an acute angle and under severe pressure to force an additional 20 minutes of action.
Monaghan didn’t finish the game as he picked up an ankle injury in extra time after apparently being struck accidently by team-mate Evan Niland, but he had inspired Galway’s second half comeback and his fitness for the replay will obviously be critical.
Full match report in this week’s Connacht Tribune.