Electric Ireland MHC: Dominant Galway advance

Electric Ireland Minor Hurling Championship Preliminary Quarter-Final

Galway 2-16 Waterford 1-6

By Stephen Barry at FBD Semple Stadium

Goals from Cillian Roche and Brian Callanan saw Galway into next weekend’s All-Ireland minor quarter-finals with a 13-point win over Waterford.

The Déise had the wind in the first half, but made little use of it with a cautious sweeper system. They mustered just two points to trail by six and the Westerners put their foot down from there.

Callanan ended with 1-7 and was fouled for four of his converted frees, while Roche added 1-2.

There were late changes on either side with Rhys O’Connor and Dara Zimmerer introduced for Galway, while Waterford called on Aaron Coughlan.

The Munster side opened the scoring through Jack Power in the third minute, but didn’t register again until first-half stoppage time.

Their best chance in between saw Shane Power wrestle past three defenders but Seán Kelly tipped his shot around the post and Mark Hartley missed the 65.

Galway didn’t produce much more from play, but were able to count on Callanan’s free-taking. He slotted four attempts, two of which he won himself. They had to wait until the 21st minute to score from play through Roche.

It was 0-5 to 0-1 when Déise boss James O’Connor went to his bench, introducing Cormac Spain and Ben Cummins into their attack. The latter set up Hartley to point with his first touch.

But in the fourth added minute, Roche profited from a defensive error, ducked inside three back-tracking defenders, and stitched the sliotar to the far corner. 1-5 to 0-2 at half-time.

Galway jumped 10 ahead by the 37th minute. When a Kelly free was driven in low, Callanan was quickest onto the break and hammered it down the middle. A Roche point made it 2-7 to 0-3.

Waterford went in search of a goal to bring them back into this contest as Spain volleyed over from a quickly-taken free. In the 40th minute, they got it when Hartley’s point attempt dipped under the crossbar and into the net. Two Cummins frees made it a six-point game, 2-9 to 1-6.

But Galway rounded out their victory with the final seven points. Ciarán Leen got them rolling and they turned over Waterford in opposition territory for the next three via fit-again Harry Holmes, Callanan (free), and Jamie Ryan.

Ronan Cahalan was another substitute to score and they could’ve had more goals but Leen and Cahalan shot at Billy Murphy, Leen sent a rebound into the sidenetting, and Holmes’ effort was scrambled away.

Scorers for Galway: Brian Callanan 1-7 (7fs), Cillian Roche 1-2, Ciarán Leen 0-2, Jonah Donnellan (65), Eoghan Mulleady, Jamie Ryan, Ronan Cahalan, and Harry Holmes 0-1 each.

Scorers for Waterford: Mark Hartley 1-1, Ben Cummins 0-3 (3fs), Jack Power, Cormac Spain 0-1 each.

Galway: Seán Kelly; Cathal Maloney, Dara Burke, Gavin Maher; Robert Burke, Jonah Donnellean, Rhys O’Connor; Ronan Murphy, Seán Moran; Eoghan Mulleady, Ciarán Leen, Jamie Ryan; Dara Zimmerer, Brian Callanan, Cillian Roche.

Subs: Brendan Fox for Maher (19, inj), Harry Holmes for Zimmerer (42), Stephen Keane for Mulleady (52), Ronan Cahalan for Ryan (56), Louis Keary for R Burke (58).

Waterford: Billy Murphy; Alex Furlong, Fiacra Cooney, Aaron Coughlan; Conor Power, Joe McDonnell, Ollie Fives; Tommy Kennedy, Rory Jacob; Gearóid O’Shea, Jack Power, Eoin Burke; Mark Hartley, Shane Power, Caoillin Reville.

Subs: Cormac Spain for Reville (30+1), Ben Cummins for O’Shea (30+1), Jamie Shanahan for Burke (46), Pierce Quann for Furlong (52), Thomas Skehan for Hartley (60+2).

Referee: Éamonn Furlong (Wexford).