Old hands help to bail erratic Galway men out of trouble

Date Published: 18-Apr-2012

Galway 0-26

Dublin 2-20

(AET – 0-21 to 2-15 after normal time)

CIARAN TIERNEY AT TULLAMORE

FOR a team which has concentrated so much on youth during a difficult Allianz NHL campaign, it was notable that some of the more senior performers stepped up to the plate in rescuing Galway from relegation in a dramatic play-off with Dublin at Tullamore on Sunday.

After a tepid first half, this tie really came to life as the sides battled it out to avoid the dreaded drop. There really was something for everyone as the Tribesmen had to rescue a draw with three points in injury time before Dublin managed a rousing recovery of their own despite being reduced to 13 men.

Galway’s disappointment at failing to kill off Anthony Daly’s men after both Ryan O’Dwyer and Alan McCrabbe were red-carded in extra time should be tempered by how much they improved after a tame opening period.

Changes, whether enforced or tactical, worked a treat and it’s fair to say that the Galway team which finished this tie looked a lot stronger than the one which started out at Tullamore.

Joe Canning looked rusty after missing the entire League through injury, but his redeployment to centre forward proved to be a master-stroke and he duly responded with ten second half points, including six from play and the three late strikes which brought this tussle to extra time.

Tony Og Regan turned in a masterful performance at centre back, which many would argue is his more natural position, after switching with Fergal Moore while Iarla Tannian turned in a towering performance at midfield after replacing Barry Daly at half-time.

Cyril Donnellan put in a good day’s work after being called in to replace Portumna’s Andy Smith, who aggravated a shoulder injury before the game. In short, the men with experience led the way for what is a very young Galway side.

It might be a cause of concern that Galway failed to register a goal for the third consecutive game but, having said that, Dublin goalkeeper Gary Maguire produced three stunning saves to deny chances for Donnellan and Damien Hayes inside the first ten minutes.

Hayes had opened the scoring for Galway before young Niall Burke pointed a free on eight minutes, following scores at the other end from Dublin free-taker Paul Ryan and full-forward Danny Sutcliffe.

Sutcliffe added his second before Burke and Ryan exchanged scores from frees – and the concession of frees is surely an area Galway must address for the rematch as Ryan had seven points from placed balls by the interval, landing three in a row at one stage.

Points from play from Niall and David Burke reduced the deficit and Donnellan fired over an excellent effort from the left on 27 minutes. Ryan and Niall Burke exchanged scores from placed balls late in the first half and Dublin held a two point lead at the break (0-9 to 0-7).

Tannian’s introduction for Daly revitalised the midfield sector, while

Canning’s switch to centre forward, with Conor Cooney moving to the full-forward role, added clear menace to the Galway attacks.

Canning may have looked short of match practice in the opening period, but he landed a beauty following a good ball from Tony Og Regan in reply to an eighth placed ball from Ryan.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.