Lively Galway come up with answers in acid league test

Galway 0-15
Waterford 0-12

STEPHEN GLENNON AT WALSH PARK

IT was comforting to note that when it was laid on the line, Galway’s hurlers had the gumption to go and find the answers. That was the prevailing and most satisfying conclusion drawn from Sunday’s Division 1A victory over Waterford at a cold and breezy Walsh Park.

Often in the past, this was the sort of battle the Tribesmen had made a habit of losing and having struggled in recent weeks against Clare, Tipperary and Cork – taking only one league point from those three games – Anthony Cunningham’s charges simply had to win this final group fixture if they were to put themselves in contention for a berth in the knockout stages.

Adding to the pressure to get a result was that a loss against Waterford – a team that has inflicted a great deal of heartache on the Tribesmen in recent times – would have, by the same token, consigned them to another relegation dogfight for the second consecutive year. While that was the making of them in 2012, it’s not the best template to be working off.

Indeed, a relegation battle, potentially, could have done serious damage to the credibility of the Galway set-up heading into a championship campaign, but, as it was, the victors showed greater purpose, intensity and direction to take the points in this one. It was the greatest indication yet that Galway have begun to stir into championship mode.

To this end, it will be fascinating to see what Galway bring to the table when they face rivals and reigning All-Ireland champions Kilkenny in the league semi-final on April 21. By that time, both the Tribesmen and the Cats will have left behind the dregs of the Winter/Spring training and are sure to have upped the ante in their ball work. That should result in a pulsating, free-flowing and sharp game of hurling. One to whet the appetite ahead of the Summer fare.

Although bottom of the league table on Sunday morning, Galway deserve a lot of credit for the positive manner in which they approached this tie. They led 0-8 to 0-3 at half-time – despite playing against the elements – and, pretty much, were dominating every sector of the field.

Defensively, the Tribesmen were very competent, with David Collins marshalling matters from the centre-half back berth and Johnny Coen, who made a number of probing runs throughout, showing a return to form in the wing-back position.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.