Timely boost for Galway men as league knock-out hopes revived

Inside Track with John McIntyre

GALWAY hurlers badly needed to win at Pearse Stadium last Sunday. Having failed to really spark so far in 2020 and facing into a knock-out clash in the National League, the pressure was on the Tribesmen to make a positive statement and, in the process, counter the growing perception that they were falling off the pace.

Cork were in town and the Rebels also had something to prove, together with also requiring victory to stay in the hunt for league honours. It was a challenging day for hurling on a heavy pitch, but it was Galway who looked by far the more accomplished outfit . . . even without the injured Joe Canning.

One can only imagine the relief in their dressing room afterwards. The players and management would have been aware of the outside noises suggesting that Galway were losing ground on their elite rivals, but this was a potentially season-changing performance. They had to dig out a result and their spirit wasn’t found wanting.

True, the second-half dismissal of Robbie O’Flynn for a dangerous head-high tackle on Adrian Tuohey helped turned the contest back in Galway’s favour after falling a point in arrears, but the manner in which they raised the ante from there to the finish suggests the home team would have carried the day in any event.

One of the most heartening factors of Galway’s triumph was that they have suddenly rediscovered the art of goal-scoring – and two crackers they were too. The first came from Jason Flynn, whose earlier bullet had been somehow denied by Anthony Nash, when he finished from close range after Conor Cooney and Brian Concannon expertly carved out the opening in the 23rd minute.

The second came shortly after O’Flynn’s red card. Cooney, much more vibrant than against Waterford the previous weekend, sent a superb cross-field ball to the impressive Concannon and though the Killimordaly clubman would have been forgiven for picking off his point, he instead took on the Cork cover before finishing brilliantly to the net.

All the Rebels could manage in the closing 20-plus minutes were two Pat Horgan frees as Galway increased their intensity. Though he had a few wides, midfielder Cathal Mannion was integral to the success with another quality effort around midfield where Tuohey was a willing if somewhat wasteful (shooting-wise) accomplice.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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