Galway cut a sorry sight in Parnell Park horror show

Dublin 3-29

Galway 0-19

John McIntyre at Parnell Park

IT’S only the middle of January and this was just a tournament fixture, but Sunday’s Walsh Cup encounter at Parnell Park proved a sobering experience for new Galway hurling manager Henry Shefflin.

After watching his charges fall to a crushing 19-point defeat against Dublin, Shefflin got an early insight into the scale of the challenge facing him in trying to make Galway serious championship challengers in 2022.

Their somewhat callow selection proved only cannon-fodder for a rampaging Dublin outfit whose superiority at times was embarrassing. In terms of physical power, craft, teamwork and working to a game plan, Mattie Kenny’s team was operating at a different level.

It proved a field day for Dónal Burke in particular. He ran amok in the Dublin half-forward line, scoring 18 points in total, including eight glorious efforts from play. Galway had no answer to him.

Dublin only scored one goal in the opening half, but they created a half-dozen clear-cut chances. Goalkeeper Eanna Murphy came to Galway’s rescue twice, some desperate defending denied Dublin a couple more, while Colin Currie missed a sitter when hitting the side-netting from point-blank range.

Unprepared for the intensity Dublin brought to the battle, Galway were quickly at sixes and sevens. Their defence was repeatedly cut to ribbons; midfield was under pressure; while their attack could make little headway against ravenous and sharp opponents.

It all made for unedifying viewing for Galway fans in the crowd of over 2,000. They trailed 1-16 to 0-8 at the break and despite a host of changes in personnel – including the introduction of the Mannion brothers, Padraic and Cathal – and positional changes, the trend of the game never altered.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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