Hurlers’ second-half blitz books shoot-out with Laois

Galway  1-20

NUIG 0-13

They got the result, but Galway made hard work of their second Walsh Cup outing last Thursday before pulling clear in the second half.

An unanswered 1-12 in that second-half second half including Sean McInerney’s 69th minute goal allowed Micheal Donoghue’s charges eventually tame the students’ challenge to put themselves in a shoot-out with Laois this Sunday (Rathdowney, 2pm) for a place in the semi-finals.

Snow, sleet, rain, and a strong wind into the town goal didn’t help Galway’s, cause but they were still guilty of unforced errors and 16 wides. However, their superior strength and fitness told as they snuffed out the threat from the college side.

A Dan Nevin free 37 seconds after the restart reduced arrears before Ardrahan’s Ger Hennelly replied making it 0-12 to 0-6 favouring NUIG. But that would be Tony Ward’s team’s last score until the 70th minute when Conor Ryan sent over their final white flag.

Nevin took Matthew Keating’s pass on 40 minutes to leave just five between them before Davy Glennon added another. Nevin, who excelled at free taking duty after taking over from Jason Flynn, was accurate from the placed balls with six in total from his nine-point contribution.

Another free on 43 minutes left three between them before Sean McInerney left his impact. The Oranmore/Maree man got one point from the bench against Dublin Institute of Technology the previous Sunday, but managed a hat-trick in five minutes to level, including one following a good run down the centre.

The momentum was back with Galway at 0-12 apiece and inevitably they took the lead when Glennon provided Flynn; before Flynn and Thomas Monaghan set up Glennon for this third point on 50 minutes.

After playing with such composure in the opening half, NUIG lost their rhythm against the elements as the various strategies struggled to create chances and they only had two wides along with their two scores.

Nevin made it 0-15 to 0-12 with a quarter hour remaining before Jack Coyne marked his arrival immediately with a point. Suddenly, a picture as gloomy as the weather was brightening under the floodlights.  Two more Nevin frees put six between them before Galway were rewarded with a late goal

Goalkeeper James Skehill flicked to Cappataggle clubmate Nevin, who sent the ball in Coyne’s direction. Moving the sliothar, McInerney’s low drill beat Cathal Tuohy for the green flag.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.