Sports
Defensive errors and lack of economy costs Galway hurlers again
Cork 2-17
Galway 0-20
IFa team’s progression is to be judged on their ability to learn and adapt, then the Galway hurlers would need to move their chairs up from the back of the classroom to the front where they can pay a little bit more attention and, perhaps, better heed the lessons of their current National League campaign.
For the second time in a month, Galway were left to bemoan costly defensive mistakes leading to the concession of, in effect, match-losing goals while the return from the number of chances being created is still not high enough – despite, in fairness, the Tribesmen putting up decent returns in their fixtures.
In front of an attendance of 7,864 at Pearse Stadium on Sunday, Galway once again provided enough positives to indicate they are moving in the right direction. However, the reoccurrence of recent errors left them vulnerable to an in-form Cork outfit and, should these failings persist, they will ultimately be their undoing as the year progresses.
What it comes down to is this? Galway have to convert more of the huge volume of chances they are creating – they took 20 out of a whooping 46 against Cork – and, perhaps more importantly, stop coughing up the ‘soft’ goals they have been conceding which have for, all intents and purposes, robbed them of victory against Tipperary and Cork.
Hurling is a simple game but, at the moment, Galway, for all their hard work, honesty and endeavour, are making life difficult for themselves with basic errors in handling (first goal), distribution (second goal) and decision-making (spurning 26 scoring chances, including 12 wides).
In some respects, Galway’s hurling is too loose. They hammered Cork on securing primary possession from the puck-outs – taking 60% of the overall tally – but too often their distribution or delivery inside let them down. It’s just not sticking for Anthony Cunningham’s men as it should.
You could argue that it’s still March and the two teams they have lost to –Tipperary and Cork – have more or less their full complement of players to choose from but, that said, Galway can’t allow the recurring themes to become of defensive mistakes and missed chances.
Cunningham has insisted that his team is young and they must learn but, on Sunday, he must have been exasperated by the reoccurrence of the defensive lapses, even if they were more unfortunate other than anything else.
For the first goal, full-back John Hanbury had his proverbial pocket picked by Cork’s Stephen Moylan in the lead-up to the first which Paudie O’Sullivan succinctly tucked away to catapult the Leesiders into a 1-7 to 0-5 lead on 18 minutes.
Cork’s second goal with six minutes to go was the most disappointing from a Galway perspective. By this stage, the home side looked to have the bit between the teeth, having taking the lead for the first time on 57 minutes through a Joseph Cooney effort, and when substitute Dean Higgins extended the advantage, Galway were on course to claim the league points.
However, centre-half back Greg Lally then sought to play the ball out of defence with an untidy handpass to full-back Hanbury – rather than clear the lines – and this allowed Cork’s Patrick Horgan to steal in and set up O’Sullivan for his second goal of the afternoon.
Although Joe Canning issued a timely riposte, the second goal proved detrimental – not so much in terms of momentum but in that it rejuvenated a Cork outfit that had appeared to have run out of ideas after scoring just two points and hitting a succession of wides in the previous 22 minutes.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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GALWAY United need to guard against any kind of complacency when they make the short hop down the M18 this Friday to take on Treaty United at the Markets Field (7.45pm).
The game is a meeting of the two form teams in the division, and as in previous meetings between the sides, will have an additional edge given the number of former United players in the home side’s ranks, and the pair of Limerick lads playing for United.
There might have been just the eight meetings between the sides since Treaty became the latest iteration to represent Limerick in the League of Ireland in 2021, and while United have yet to lose to the men in the candy-cane strips, there has never been more than a goal in four of their eight wins.
The most recent of those was back in February, when Rob Slevin scored the only goal of the game in Eamonn Deacy Park after a tough battle against a side who made a slow start to the season, before finally finding their groove in the past month.
Having taken just three points from their first six games before finally getting a win against Longford Town, they reverted to type with just one point from their next three games, but are now on a run of four wins on the spin, scoring 12 goals and conceding just one.
Their most recent win was a 3-0 victory away to Longford Town last Saturday, and they could have won by double that against the only side to have beaten United this season. That in itself is a warning.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty
While the Salthill Devon men’s team might have lost their grip on the Connacht Junior Cup that they held for two seasons, the club’s women’s side have picked up the mantle and on Sunday last in Headford were crowned provincial champions with a 4-3 win over Manulla.
Following midweek wins for Maree/Oranmore and Knocknacarra, the stage is now almost set for the semi-finals of the Michael Byrne Cup with Salthill Devon meeting St Bernard’s on Sunday in an outstanding quarter-final, with the winners advancing to a semi-final against Maree/Oranmore, while Colga will face Knocknacarra in the other last four contest.
Just one league issue remains to be decided, with the Championship runners-up position up for grabs, as Dynamo Blues have to win their two remaining games in order to overtake Colemanstown United who have finished their programme.
WOMEN’S CONNACHT CUP FINAL
Salthill Devon 4
Manulla 3
Ellerose O’Flaherty scored twice as Salthill Devon were crowned provincial champions with a win over a Mayo side who were losing in the final for the second year in succession.
Backboned by a number of players who previously had League of Ireland experience with Galway WFC, Devon suffered an early set back when Jess Nolan put Manulla ahead, before O’Flaherty levelled matters with a cracking finish on 20 minutes, which was quickly followed by a long-range free-kick from Aoife Walsh.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
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