Galway lose their way ahead of big Waterford test

Dublin   0-26

Galway 2-14

WASTE of time. Plain and simple. For all intents and purposes, Galway may have well stayed at home and walked The Prom than make the trip to the Capital for this final National Hurling League group game – a fixture that meant nothing to the Tribesmen as they had already qualified for the quarter-finals.

Hand Dublin the points. That’s what the Galway camp should have done and saved those, especially the hardcore fans who made the trip to Parnell Parnell, the effort, the cost and time of watching their county team fulfil a fixture that when it came down to the nitty gritty of, they put little or no stock or value in.

Granted, it was a ‘Catch 22’ situation for Anthony Cunningham’s men. Out for the fourth week in succession when they face an in-form Waterford in the NHL quarter-final this Sunday, the Dublin tie afforded an opportunity to rest some key players and give game-time to others.

However, the galling thing was that Galway got to half-time in a match-winning position – so, despite changes, team selection was sound – but they then more or less imploded over the next 35 plus minutes, scoring just one point from play.

It was terrible stuff, one huge mess, and that was subsequently reflected in the six-point defeat to a Dublin outfit which required a victory to stave off the quagmire of relegation. Yes, their need was greater.

If manager Anthony Cunningham and his management team did make one mistake, it was bringing in the likes of substitutes Jason Flynn and Iarla Tannian into the action. Obviously being rested for the quarter-final, they made little or no impact upon their introductions, Flynn being replaced by his cousin Colm with two minutes remaining.

This was because by dropping them to the bench in the first place they had been effectively told this was a meaningless fixture. A glorified challenge. Consequently, the two players couldn’t get themselves up for a tie an indecisive Galway didn’t know if they wanted to win or not. It was an attitude which seemed to permeate throughout the team the longer this game went on.

On the other hand, the players who came in had something to play for and prove. In this respect, full-back Paul Killeen acquitted himself quite well under difficult circumstances; substitute goalkeeper Aidan Ryan was a safe pair of hands, keeping a clean sheet; and corner forward Brian Molloy was lively in a competitive first half, picking off a point.

Other than that though, it was fortunate that Galway netted two well-worked goals in the opening period. With nothing at stake, the Tribesmen were able to hurl with a certain freedom and abandon – unlike an uptight Dublin – and this manifested in some neat scores.

Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune.