Champions Galway have no answer to classy Cork rivals in heavy final loss

Cork 1-23

Galway 0-12

THERE was no shame in what happened to the Galway minor hurlers in Thurles last Friday evening. Like Clare, Limerick and Waterford before them, they were blown away by an exceptional Cork outfit.

Protecting a record-breaking 14-match championship winning run in amassing four consecutive All-Ireland titles, Galway’s stranglehold on the Irish Press Cup was smashed in this final mismatch at Semple Stadium.

Like their U20 colleagues at the same venue the previous Wednesday, Galway’s challenge was swept aside by classier and physically stronger opponents. Never once in an uneven struggle for glory did the boys in maroon threaten to stop the Rebel rising in under-age hurling.

The few Galway fans in attendance rarely had the opportunity to raise a cheer such was Cork’s dominance. Fourteen points separated the teams at the finish, and it didn’t flatter the Munster champions one iota such was their superiority over the sixty minutes.

Cork lived up to all the hype with their latest double-digit victory. Their athleticism was too much for Galway to handle and they laid down the terms of engagement from the throw-in. Brian Hanley’s charges were always out of their comfort zone and unable to influence the exchanges to any sustained degree.

At times, it made for painful viewing such was the gulf in standard between the teams. Galway were always under pressure and despite earning deserved plaudits for their slightly unexpected semi-final win over Kilkenny the previous Friday, Cork proved a different beast altogether.

The Rebels were strong all over the field. Superb corner back Darragh O’Sullivan surged forward to pick off two rousing points from play; centre back Ben O’Connor was a tower of strength; Mikey Finn was a smooth operator around midfield; while Diarmuid Healy, David Cremin, Jack Leahy and William Buckley went to town up front.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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