Hurlers book league semi-final spot against Kilkenny

Galway 1-20

Limerick 1-12

Job done. Nothing more, nothing less as Galway secured their first victory on the road in this National Hurling League campaign against an abject Limerick side at the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday to book their place in the semi-finals, where they will face rivals Kilkenny.

From a viewing perspective, this quarter-final tie was poor stuff and that was mainly down, by and large, to a Limerick side draining the contest of any vitality. The Shannonsiders lacked passion, desire and drive and failed to ask questions of a Galway side that, in contrast, showed a greater duty of care.

On paper, this tie had the potential to be a humdinger; however, the Munster champions were so caught up in implementing defensive game plans – particularly when the Tribesmen upped the tempo at the end of the opening quarter – that they totally lacked any direction going forward thereafter.

It wasn’t as if Galway had gone into overdrive either. Trailing 0-5 to 0-2 after nine minutes, Galway just upped the ante to lead 1-8 to 0-8 at the break, and went on to outscore Limerick by 0-12 to 1-4 in the second-half.

Galway 2014 is still a work in progress but the signs are extremely positive. One of the aspects they have certainly improved on has been weathering the proverbial storm when a team gets a run on them, which inevitably happens at every level.

 What has certainly aided the Tribesmen has been a settled defence. Goalkeeper Callanan has been immense while Fergal Moore, the ever improving Ronan Burke and uncompromising David Collins have been solid in the full-back line. Often, it has not been so much what they have done on the ball but their ability to cover their opponent’s runs off it. So reducing the other team’s options in attack.

Outside them, Aidan Harte, Iarla Tannian and Daithí Burke, who had another fine game, have shown a willingness to put their shoulder to the wheel when called upon and that, sadly, was something lacking in this area last year.

Make no mistake, it would have been a major blow to the Galway set-up if they had not won this quarter-final but, in claiming the win, it’s affirmation that the road they are currently on has the potential to lead somewhere.

For now, that’s Kilkenny in the National Hurling League semi-finals on April 20. Championship or not, they can look no further.