Wasteful Galway pay the price for sloppy first-half

Date Published: {J}

Cork 1-20

Galway 1-17

STEPHEN GLENNON AT PÁIRC UI CHAOIMH

GALWAY’S unbeaten run in the National Hurling League came to an unnecessary end after the Tribesmen – who shot no less than 10 first half wides – succumbed to a more clinical Cork at Páirc Ui Chaoimh on Sunday.

While not much weight can be put into this loss, in terms of maintaining the momentum conjured from their previous victories over Wexford and Offaly – never mind succeeding in a game that was there to be won – Galway will feel that they left an achievable result behind them on the banks of the Lee.

Indeed, if Galway had been as clinical in taking their chances as Cork were, then they could have won this game in a canter. However, those 10 first half wides, added to the spurning of two gilt edged goal chances in the opening six minutes, underlined just how flat Galway’s performance was in the initial period.

Granted, there were, perhaps, mitigating circumstances. While Cork have been rotating their squad throughout their league campaign – keeping the players both fresh and hungry – Galway have had to work with a contracted panel due to the long list of injuries they have at present.

In front of a paltry attendance of 2,866 on Sunday, it meant most of the Galway players were lining out for their third consecutive game – while several of these have also been involved in Fitzgibbon Cup and the U-21 county championship over the past number of weeks. In fact, corner back Gerard O’Halloran, midfielder David Burke and corner forward Johnny Coen had all played U-21 games less than 24 hours previously.

In any event, it was inevitable that an injury-ridden Galway would be caught flat-footed at some stage of this league and the first half of this contest was it. Although Galway began brightly enough by creating a plethora of scoring opportunities – including two excellent goal chances for Ger Farragher and Iarla Tannian on two and six minutes respectively – by the end of the first quarter they trailed 1-5 to 0-2.

The lively Cian McCarthy (2) and midfielder Jerry O’Connor both shot points, while dead ball specialist Pat Horgan tallied 1-1 in this time. The goal arrived on 15 minutes after wing-back Adrian Cullinane got entangled with Horgan as he bore down on the posts. The latter made no mistake with his penalty effort.

The killer was: whereas Galway had spurned their goal chances, Cork – as they often do – managed to net with their one and only attempt over the 70 minutes.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.