Sports
Tribesmen bounce back with terrific victory over Banner men
Galway 2-17
Clare 0-17
A day of redemption for Galway hurling. So many ghosts were buried in Semple Stadium, Thurles last Sunday that it’s no wonder Clare were spooked by what their fired-up Western neighbours brought to this hard-fought All-Ireland championship quarter-final.
After taking a battering from the critics in the wake of the Leinster decider, it was time for Galway to stand up and be counted, and with obvious fire in their bellies, the men in maroon rose magnificently to the challenge in setting up another big collision with Tipperary at Croke Park next month.
We have often seen more swashbuckling and classy hurling for Galway in the past, but it’s doubtful if Sunday’s level of commitment and intensity has ever been surpassed. They worked like savages from start to finish, and physically, also had Clare’s number.
This was the ideal opportunity for Galway to bury the lazy narrative that they don’t have either bottle or resolution, and boy did they embrace that chance with a rousing display, laced with industry and dogged determination. There was heroic defending at one end and the ability to conjure up some great scores, especially when needed, at the other.
Galway hardly took a backwards step all afternoon as the players and team management turned a difficult season on its head to suddenly emerge as serious title challengers again. It was brilliant to see a group of men so ridiculed all year finally show the heart and courage to back up their undoubted talent.
This was the perfect response to the flak, particularly the more cutting insults, as Galway showed pride in abundance in restoring their reputations. As a team, they took gallantry to new levels and, significantly, didn’t blink when Clare belatedly woke up to the seriousness of their plight in the second-half.
If the players justify all the garlands being showered on them, the Galway management must also take a bow. Micheál Donoghue, Francis Forde and Noel Larkin kept their heads down in difficult circumstances but, more importantly, put a plan together to counteract Clare’s almost manic fixation with tactics.
The decision to release Johnny Coen to midfield was vindicated, if only for the invaluable impetus he gave Galway at the start of both halves; the selection of Adrian Tuohy was a real springer, but the Beagh man made light of being thrown in at the deep end; and, furthermore, the Tribesmen got nearly all their match-ups right.
Padraig Mannion stuck like a leech to a somewhat subdued Tony Kelly; the terrific Daithí Burke hardly gave Aaron Shanagher a look in; the teak-tough John Hanbury never left Shane O’Donnell’s shoulder; while the decision to employ the excellent Aidan Harte as sweeper could hardly have turned out better. He hit an ocean of ball, not always well directed mind you, but the Gort clubman was up for the battle.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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GALWAY United need to guard against any kind of complacency when they make the short hop down the M18 this Friday to take on Treaty United at the Markets Field (7.45pm).
The game is a meeting of the two form teams in the division, and as in previous meetings between the sides, will have an additional edge given the number of former United players in the home side’s ranks, and the pair of Limerick lads playing for United.
There might have been just the eight meetings between the sides since Treaty became the latest iteration to represent Limerick in the League of Ireland in 2021, and while United have yet to lose to the men in the candy-cane strips, there has never been more than a goal in four of their eight wins.
The most recent of those was back in February, when Rob Slevin scored the only goal of the game in Eamonn Deacy Park after a tough battle against a side who made a slow start to the season, before finally finding their groove in the past month.
Having taken just three points from their first six games before finally getting a win against Longford Town, they reverted to type with just one point from their next three games, but are now on a run of four wins on the spin, scoring 12 goals and conceding just one.
Their most recent win was a 3-0 victory away to Longford Town last Saturday, and they could have won by double that against the only side to have beaten United this season. That in itself is a warning.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty
While the Salthill Devon men’s team might have lost their grip on the Connacht Junior Cup that they held for two seasons, the club’s women’s side have picked up the mantle and on Sunday last in Headford were crowned provincial champions with a 4-3 win over Manulla.
Following midweek wins for Maree/Oranmore and Knocknacarra, the stage is now almost set for the semi-finals of the Michael Byrne Cup with Salthill Devon meeting St Bernard’s on Sunday in an outstanding quarter-final, with the winners advancing to a semi-final against Maree/Oranmore, while Colga will face Knocknacarra in the other last four contest.
Just one league issue remains to be decided, with the Championship runners-up position up for grabs, as Dynamo Blues have to win their two remaining games in order to overtake Colemanstown United who have finished their programme.
WOMEN’S CONNACHT CUP FINAL
Salthill Devon 4
Manulla 3
Ellerose O’Flaherty scored twice as Salthill Devon were crowned provincial champions with a win over a Mayo side who were losing in the final for the second year in succession.
Backboned by a number of players who previously had League of Ireland experience with Galway WFC, Devon suffered an early set back when Jess Nolan put Manulla ahead, before O’Flaherty levelled matters with a cracking finish on 20 minutes, which was quickly followed by a long-range free-kick from Aoife Walsh.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
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