Sports
Galway head for Waterford on brink of relegation play-off with Cork
Galway senior hurling manager Michéal Donoghue has acknowledged his charges need to get out of the blocks quicker in their National League games and has admitted that will be one of the primary objectives they will be setting themselves for their showdown with Waterford at Walsh Park this Sunday (2pm).
Slow starts against Kilkenny and Tipperary have left the Tribesmen chasing the game in recent fixtures and Donoghue acknowledged this is an area they have to improve on – not only in terms of performances, but also results.
“We were saying at half-time, and over the last few weeks, we are not starting in any of the games. We are working really hard on that with the lads and it is something we have to work on for the future,” conceded Donoghue in his post-match interview following the Tipp clash.
“It has (been hurting us) but we can’t fault the players’ attitude and application and it is just something we are working towards and it something we have identified collectively. We are working together on it and hopefully it will get better going forward.”
Quite simply, it has to. With Cork languishing at the bottom of the table, the Leesiders have at least time to come to terms with a relegation battle. On the other hand, Galway must, at the very least, get a result against Waterford this Sunday and hope Tipperary, who have a superior scoring difference (+13), falter against their Munster rivals.
“They (Tipp) have a strong scoring difference but, look, Cork performed really well against Kilkenny (last weekend). It is probably a free game for them in that they can go out and perform. Cork are a quality side as well.
“I have been saying it all through the league. Division 1 is really competitive. All the games are going to be competitive and I have no doubt the last round will be also,” added the Clarinbridge native.
Sunday’s fixture is an interesting one. Reigning National League champions Waterford lost to Dublin at home last weekend and, incredibly, that was their first defeat in 11 in the competition in almost two years. They will be smarting.
Whatever about Waterford, the trip down south certainly holds significance for the Galway team on Sunday. When the sides met in the National League quarter-final last year, Galway suffered a 0-20 to 0-12 loss following a somewhat disjointed performance.
It is believed it was at this point the relationship between then manager Anthony Cunningham and the players began to head down the road it did. Given the background, this fixture in one way places the Galway players under scrutiny – even more so than the Kilkenny clash.
Consequently, this game is as much a test of the players’ state of mind and their mental fortitude as it will be of their hurling competence and their ability to break down a compact defensive structure, something they have grappled with in the past. Those are the challenges they will have to embrace.
Along with, of course, getting to the pitch of the battle from the off.
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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