Niland hits key scores as Galway advance to semi-finals

GALWAY 1-14

LIMERICK 0-13

GALWAY’S minor hurlers produced an accomplished display soundly based on an insatiable work-rate and real intensity to deservedly book their place in the All-Ireland semi-finals and set up a mouthwatering tie against Leinster champions Kilkenny at Croke Park on Sunday, August 9.

In the end, a 36th minute goal from Gort’s Jack Grealish, following great work from Jack Coyne and a deft flick by Brian Concannon, was the decisive score although it would take late points from man of the match Evan Niland and substitute Cianan Fahy to seal the win in what were wet and miserable conditions for hurling.

With Limerick – battle hardened by four games, including two wins up to this point – starting this tactically intriguing contest at Semple Stadium as favourites, it seemed Galway might struggle to get to the pitch of their game in time on their first championship outing of 2015.

However, Jeffrey Lynskey’s charges put the ridiculous scenario of this being their first, and possibly only championship fixture of the year – for some are more equal than others in the GAA’s archaic structures – to shame with a polished display where every player carried out their role with purpose and precision.

Indeed, great credit must go to the management team of Lynskey, Shane Cusack, Gavin Keary and John Commins for the manner in which they prepared the class of 2015. Around the county, few had questioned their wrists but many thought the team would struggle with the physicality of the likes of Limerick and others.

Maximising their resources, what a well-organised Galway did on Sunday was play to their strengths and, in this respect, it was a tactical masterclass from Lynskey and company in deploying captain Sean Loftus – a noted wing-back for Turloughmore – as a sweeper to compensate for whatever shortcomings the team had.

It could be seen that the sweeper was something the squad had worked on at length, so comfortable were the players in their duties. Unlike the Cork seniors, who had only embraced the ploy of late, the Galway minors were alive to the strengths and pitfalls of the system and were able to make it work in their favour.

The primary objective of the sweeper is not to cough up big scores and the concession of 13 points – only seven from play from the Limerick forwards – was testament to Galway’s proficiency in its use. The flip side of it is that you also have to have the stomach and nerve to win tight games – if it works – and Galway certainly had that.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.