Regan fires home the key scores in Galway triumph

Galway 1-22

Dublin 1-20

A late goal and a point from birthday boy James Regan was the perfect gift last Saturday as the Tribesmen secured their first trophy since the Leinster championship in 2012.

With the sides level two minutes from time, Regan’s first touch from a long ball deceived two defenders before his second beat keeper Alan Nolan. He controlled the sliothar with his feet to kick into the Hill 16 net as Galway sealed their second Walsh Cup triumph.

It must be remembered this was the first weekend in February and Galway’s season will be defined by what happens later but Anthony Cunningham couldn’t have asked for more ahead of Sunday’s league opener against Clare.

The Tribesmen did struggle in the first half, going 1-8 to 0-4 behind. But with Jason Flynn contributing 11 frees, Regan totalling 1-4 and six other players scoring from play, they stayed in touch.

Despite missing a number of key players, Galway still lined out with eight of last year’s championship side. But in a dress rehearsal for this year’s Leinster meeting on May 31, it was the Metropolitans who started brightly.

Shane Stapleton opened Dublin’s account inside 40 seconds and further minors from Ben Quinn, Paul Ryan (2) and Stapleton gave Ger Cunningham’s team a 0-5 to 0-2 lead. Flynn registered Galway’s first score in the sixth minute before adding a second, but the maroon and white had missed earlier chances from Gearoid McInerney and Dean Higgins.

Flynn’s third placed ball came in the 14th minute and the Tommy Larkins clubman then got his fourth to make it 0-5 to 0-4, but a couple of lapses of concentration helped put Dublin in the driving seat. Joseph Boland took a poor Colm Callanan puck out for their sixth, while Mark Schutte and Ryan added white flags. In between, Liam Rushe was perfectly placed for Simon Lambert’s delivery to beatCallanan for the goal and a seven point cushion.

Galway were struggling to settle. The defence were being pulled out of position and the forwards weren’t making an impact. But there was never any signs of panic and Flynn sent over his fifth free in the 20th minute.

It took 21 minutes for Galway’s first from play as Regan found the target. Dublin did lead 1-10 to 0-7 in the 27th minute but minors for Flynn (2), Regan, Brian Molloy and Padraig Breheny had the Tribesmen back to within two points.

Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune