Gallant Galway left to count the cost of 19 wides in semi-final thriller

Limerick 0-27

Galway 1-21

John McIntyre at Croke Park

THEY went toe to toe, hip to hip, and shoulder to shoulder with the All-Ireland champions. And if Galway hurlers are kicking themselves for their fatal lack of scoring efficiency at Croke Park on Sunday, nobody will be kicking them after producing a heroic effort in this pulsating All-Ireland semi-final.

Dying with their boots on is an over-used cliché in sport, but that’s exactly what Galway did in the team’s best performance of the year. Their players emptied the locker in trying to topple Limerick, only giving away in a tense finale which saw the title holders’ proven big-day temperament come to the fore.

Against a background of widespread local negativity about their chances, Galway rattled Limerick to the core with a hugely committed and defiant display. They hunted in packs; never backed away from the physical combat; and still had every chance of pulling off a huge shock (in the eyes of some) with only four minutes of normal time remaining.

They had recovered magnificently from a difficult opening – falling 0-6 to 0-1 behind with Aaron Gillane on fire for Limerick – and though the conclusion of the opening half didn’t go great either, Galway tore out of the blocks on the resumption, with a brilliantly finished Brian Concannon goal having their heavily out-numbered fans in the crowd of over 52,000 rocking

Three times in a compelling second-half, Galway hit the front but significantly they could never increase that margin to more than one. Limerick were just about managing to survive the maroon storm and down the home stretch, they needed all of their experience and composure to carry the day.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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