Galway need to find a few more young men in 2021

By Patrick Earley

WE were hoping for the dream early Christmas present but Limerick put paid to Galway’s Liam McCarthy hopes for 2020, comprehensively outplaying the Tribesmen for the second time in three years in championship hurling, but again, Galway were right there at the finish.

That was the biggest disappointment coming away from Croke Park on Sunday night. Yes, there was a huge sense of pride at how the players battled to the death in the face of adversity and there were encouraging signs for the future with the performances of some of the new faces in the set-up, but superior and all as Limerick were, Galway could actually have won this game.

Aside from the opening quarter, where Galway tore into Limerick and got the upper hand, something they had failed to do in 2018, Limerick bossed the game. Even before Cathal Mannion’s premature departure on 24 minutes, Limerick were beginning to turn the screw.

From there to the next water break, the Treaty dominated proceedings and yet, when Galway hit five on the bounce either side of a lengthy stoppage in play while Joe Canning received treatment late on, the sides were level and it had seemingly come from nowhere.

It always felt as though Limerick were just keeping the Tribesmen at arms-length until suddenly, they weren’t and the sides were tied after Evan Niland nailed a stunning free with his first act since replacing Canning, before winning possession from Daithi Burke’s delivery, feeding Concannon who in turn found Whelan for the equaliser.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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