Only thing that matters Ð hurlers are still standing

Date Published: 18-Apr-2012

LET’S be honest about it, the vast majority of Galway supporters expected the county hurlers to be beaten in Sunday’s Division One relegation play-off against Dublin at Tullamore. The legacy of the recent Kilkenny hammering and the disappointing home loss to Waterford had created a negative environment and resulted in a small following for the team in O’Connor Park.

Against that background, the fact that Galway are still standing is a result in every sense of the word, especially as they were in a major hole when trailing by five points early in the second-half after Conor McCormack had goaled for Dublin. To the players’ credit, they rolled up their sleeves with Tony Og Regan, Iarla Tannian, in a new midfield role, Cyril Donnellan and the returning Joe Canning leading the fightback.

A flurry of points from Galway actually enabled them to take the lead midway through the second-half, but a Ross O’Carroll goal in the 57th minute – a score which again exposed problems in the full back line – regained the initiative for Dublin. Subsequently, when John McCaffrey put them three clear in the 69th minute, the game appeared up for the Tribesmen and, in the process, a return to Division Two hurling for the first time in over 20 years.

Somehow (and admirably), Galway rescued a dire situation. Canning fired over two close range frees before a terrific delivery by Tannian was pounced on by the Portumna man who splits the posts with a classic effort to send the match into extra time. The momentum was now with Anthony Cunningham’s squad, particularly as Ryan O’Dwyer, whose disciplinary record leaves something to be desired, was dismissed by referee Barry Kelly for an off-the-ball incident within seconds of the action resuming.

Two more Canning frees and an effort from the hard working Donnellan left Galway 0-24 to 2-16 in front after the first period of extra time. By that juncture, Dublin had imploded from a discipline perspective as another attacker, Alan McCrabbe, was red carded for a wild pull on David Collins. 15 against 13, two points ahead, you’d have expected Galway to comfortably close out the game from there.

Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way despite further Galway points from James Regan and last year’s minor Jonathan Glynn. With so many substitutions and players losing their sense of position, the match surrendered much of its structure and that helped a gritty Dublin to pull off an unlikely draw with late scores from two reserves, Daire Plunkett and Niall McMorrow, who kept his nerve from a 65 with virtually the last puck of the game.

In the circumstances, the Dubs had got out of jail and they remain dangerous opponents in Saturday’s replay even if McCrabbe and O’Dwyer will be sidelined for that match. Once again, their overall physicality had Galway in trouble, but it’s not the first time that the team’s discipline is coming under scrutiny. A couple of their players are living on the margins and while it’s one thing to be tough and fearless, it’s quite another to be reckless and dangerous. Anthony Daly has problems to sort out but, overall, he was surely relieved that Dublin hadn’t already been consigned in Division Two.

Regardless of Galway’s failure to close the deal, this spirited performance was still a significant step forward compared to recent outings. Dublin may not be Kilkenny, but they are dogged opponents and are not easy to subdue. Canning being declared fit enough to start must have been a huge lift for Galway and he had a stormer, shooting 12 points in total, including some cracking efforts from play.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.