Electric Ireland MHC Final: Impressive Clare secure silverware

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Electric Ireland Minor Hurling Championship Final

Clare 2-22 Galway 4-11

By Stephen Barry at FBD Semple Stadium

Clare produced a monumental performance on the big day to claim their second All-Ireland minor hurling title. They conceded a pair of goals early and late but in between, they were unstoppable.

Their defence led by Eoghan Gunning, James Hegarty, and Jamie Moylan limited a Galway attack that had outscored their opponents by 100 points across six games.

At the other end, they took a Galway defence that had never allowed more than 0-14 in any match for 2-22, with the goals arriving at the start of the second half from Ógie Fanning and Hegarty. By the end, they had 12 scorers, including four subs.

They celebrated their first title at this grade since the double of 1997 with Gunning raising the Irish Press Cup in Semple Stadium’s New Stand.

Galway had two goals inside 13 minutes but their shooting was otherwise pock-marked by wides (six in that same period).

An Aaron Niland free from inside his own 45 proved more dangerous when dropping short. The towering Jason Rabbitte snatched it out of the air and flicked into the empty net.

Then, Conor Gilligan was first onto a breaking ball and sent Cullen Killeen into space. He shook off a foul and used the advantage to roof the sliotar past the covering defender and keeper.

But each time Clare came back to level and then lead. They had four of the next five points after Rabbitte’s goal, with an early brace for Michael Collins.

Once Killeen netted, they enjoyed the best spell, scorching over five of the next seven points, with two each from Seán Arthur and free-taker Marc O’Brien as well as a sensational Fanning effort.

When Rabbitte raised a 27th-minute white flag, it was Galway’s only point from play all half.

A Niland bouncer tested Mark Sheedy’s reflexes, but Clare finished the half ahead, 0-12 to 2-5. Their defence started in the full-forward line and was summarised when they intercepted back-to-back short puck-outs, although both were shot wide, before forcing the goalie to overcarry for a tap-over free.

Clare lost full-back Ronan Keane to an apparent hamstring injury while Galway centre-back Donnacha Campbell was also removed at the break.

Galway’s skillful short-passing game was being tested like never before and it came under greater stress when Clare added two goals within seven minutes.

O’Brien’s run created the first. He lobbed the ball straight off his hurley into Fanning’s path and the corner-forward artfully delayed his shot before tapping in.

Then, a Hegarty free from his own 65 got lost in the high afternoon sun and was dropped over the line.

When Hegarty added another free from distance, their lead was six; 2-13 to 2-7.

Clare kept on rolling with superb points from Fred Hegarty, Jack Mescal, and Collins while their defence was standing tall; Sheedy blocked a close-in Niland free and Matthew O’Halloran denied Brian Callanan from the rebound.

Niland had been well marshalled by Gunning and James Hegarty but escaped for three points in a row, the latter pair from play.

Gunning intervened again to block Conor Gilligan and found his feet again to follow up with two more defensive dispossessions.

There was still time for substitutes to have their say at either end.

Harry Holmes sent a screamer to the top corner after steering his way around two Clare defenders to bring the gap back to four, 2-18 to 3-11.

But Harry Doherty and Eoin Carey landed points from either wing before Niland picked out Killeen for a final consolation goal.

Scorers for Clare: Marc O’Brien 0-7 (5fs), James Hegarty 1-2 (1-2fs), Ógie Fanning 1-1, Michael Collins 0-3, Seán Arthur 0-2, Jack Mescal, Evan Price, Eoin Begley, Michael Power, Fred Hegarty, Eoin Carey, Harry Doherty 0-1 each.

Scorers for Galway: Aaron Niland 0-8 (6fs), Cullen Killeen 2-0, Jason Rabbitte 1-1, Harry Holmes 1-0, Michael Burke, Michael Fallon 0-1 each.

Clare: Mark Sheedy; Eoghan Gunning, Ronan Keane, Conor Rynne; Matthew O’Halloran, James Hegarty, Jamie Moylan; Jack Mescal, Evan Price; Ronan Kilroy, Michael Collins, Seán Arthur; Ógie Fanning, Marc O’Brien, Eoin Begley.

Subs: Fred Hegarty for Keane (HT inj), Michael Power for Begley (39), Eoin Carey for Gunning (48-50, blood), Harry Doherty for Fanning (51), Carey for Mescal (53), Emmet Mulcahy for Kilroy (60+3).

Galway: Shane Murray; Thomas Blake, Seán Murphy, Gearóid King; Dylan Quirke, Donnacha Campbell, Ed O’Reilly; Michael Burke, Cullen Killeen; Darragh Counihan, Colm Burke, Conor Gilligan; Brian Callanan, Jason Rabbitte, Aaron Niland.

Subs: Michael Fallon for Campbell (HT), Stephen Keane for O’Reilly (40), Harry Holmes for C Burke (40), Eoghan Mulleady for Callanan (58).

Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary

Leinster SHC: Spoils divided at Croke Park

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Leinster Senior Hurling Championship

Dublin 2-22 Galway 1-25

By Paul Keane at Croke Park

On madcap days like these, hurling doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense.

Galway may have qualified for the Leinster SHC final, just about as everyone expected, but the manner of their progression was anything but routine as Henry Shefflin’s Jekyll and Hyde crew remarkably came from 12 points down to rescue a thrilling Croke Park draw.

Trailing by 10 points at half-time and 12 early in the second-half, it looked as if a surprise win for Dublin was on the cards which, potentially, could have sent Micheal Donoghue’s men through to the June 11 final themselves.

But, a decade after their last provincial triumph, Dublin couldn’t hold on and were reeled in during a frantic final half hour or so as resurgent Galway, inspired by goalscorer Daithi Burke, did just about enough to escape.

Truth be told, Shefflin will be fuming with his team’s first-half performance and the 16 wides they blasted overall but the second-half display at least gives them vital momentum heading into the decider against Kilkenny.

Evan Niland’s 10 points were crucial and it looked, for a matter of seconds at least, as if he may be the matchwinner when the free-taker shot Galway ahead in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

But there was one last kick from a Dublin side that largely collapsed in the second-half in the form of a Donal Burke point from a free which meant the game ended in stalemate.

It all means that Dublin finish third in the table and will advance to an All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final.

They will kick themselves because a memorable first-half when almost everything went Dublin’s way looked as if it had laid the platform for a famous win.

Dublin were certainly the dominant team at that stage and their natural pace suited the big pitch.

But they got a big helping hand from a Galway side that made an alarming number of errors.

Leaving players of the calibre of Cian Boland and Mark Grogan in acres of space was a big problem.

And while midfielder Joseph Cooney struck four first-half points, the inside forwards got little joy from any of their individual battles with the Dublin defenders.

Shefflin must have winced too as the westerners essentially handed the two goals to Dublin on a plate.

Cian O’Sullivan’s first in the ninth minute was a bizarre moment as the Dublin attacker shortened the hurl to avoid being hooked but miscued a point attempt that somehow dropped in over the goalkeeper’s ahead.

The second goal was an even greater nightmare from Galway’s perspective. Cooney Cooney, tracking back deep in his own defence and trying to work a ball across his own goal face, failed to pick out a Galway man and Danny Sutcliffe intercepted before blasting from close range to the net.

As if to underline just how tuned in Dublin were, Sutcliffe immediately gestured to his fellow forwards to be alive to the threat of a short puck-out.

That sort of ultra intensity and appetite for destruction was evident throughout the pitch. Free-taker Burke, one of nine different Dublin scorers in the first-half, showed the breadth of his talent with the opening score of the game from close to the left sideline and, later in the half, split the posts with an effort from next to the right sideline.

Everything seemed to be dropping over for the Dubs, even a monster effort from Conor Burke that dropped just a couple of inches beyond the crossbar.

It all added up to a whopping 10-point, 2-16 to 0-12, half-time lead for the hosts who stretched the gap to a dozen points after a bright start to the second-half.

A couple of unlikely Burke wides from frees suggested that nerves were kicking in though.

Sensing opportunity, Galway pushed on to finally give themselves a foothold in the game.

Between the 44th and 52nd minutes they held Dublin scoreless and put 1-4 on the board themselves. Man of the Match Daithi Burke slammed home the goal from close range after a probing run down the left. They should have had a second goal but Conor Cooney’s 47th minute strike from a penalty, awarded following a foul by Conor Burke on sub Brian Concannon, was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Sean Brennan.

By the hour mark, Galway had whittled Dublin’s lead down to just four points. A sense of inevitability crept across proceedings as Galway slowly but surely picked off the points to eventually wipe out the deficit entirely in the 69th minute.

Niland’s 10th point of the afternoon in the 75th minute nudged them ahead and looked like being the winner but Na Fianna man Burke came to Dublin’s rescue with that late, late leveller.

Scorers for Dublin: Donal Burke 0-10 (0-6f, 0-1 65), Danny Sutcliffe 1-2, Cian O’Sullivan 1-1, Cian Boland 0-3, Eoghan O’Donnell 0-2, Mark Grogan 0-1, Daire Gray 0-1, Conor Donohoe 0-1, Conor Burke 0-1.

Scorers for Galway: Evan Niland 0-10 (0-6f), Joseph Cooney 0-5, Daithi Burke 1-0, Kevin Cooney 0-3, Tom Monaghan 0-3, Ronan Glennon 0-1, Fintan Burke 0-1, Eanna Murphy 0-1 (0-1f), Jason Flynn 0-1.

Dublin: Sean Brennan; John Bellew, Paddy Smyth, Eoghan O’Donnell; Conor Burke, Paddy Doyle, Daire Gray; Mark Grogan, Conor Donohoe; Sean Currie, Chris O’Leary, Cian Boland; Danny Sutcliffe, Cian O’Sullivan, Donal Burke.

Subs: Alex Considine for O’Leary 56, Dara Purcell for O’Sullivan 64, Paul Crummey for Boland 67, James Madden for Donohoe 68, Fergal Whitely for Grogan 74.

Galway: Eanna Murphy; TJ Brennan, Gearoid McInerney, Darren Morrissey; Padraic Mannion, Daithi Burke, Fintan Burke; Joseph Cooney, Ronan Glennon; Conor Cooney, Tom Monaghan, Evan Niland; Kevin Cooney, Conor Whelan, Declan McLoughlin.

Subs: Brian Concannon for McLoughlin h/t, Jack Grealish for Brennan h/t, Sean Linnane for F Burke 43, Jason Flynn for Glennon 49, Liam Collins for C Cooney 64.

Referee: Paud O’Dwyer (Carlow).

Galway Hurlers Secure Impressive Victory Over Antrim in Leinster Hurling Championship

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Galway 5-29 Antrim 1-22

Galway manager Henry Shefflin is looking at next weekend’s Leinster SHC clash with Dublin as a knockout game as they both try to get to a Leinster final meeting with his native Kilkenny.

Galway, having earlier defeated Westmeath by 44 points, had 19 points to spare in another facile win at Pearse Stadium where the tempo was little above challenge match level against an understrength Antrim side.

But now Shefflin is relishing the prospect of some serious championship action against a Dublin side managed by Galway’s 2017 All-Ireland-winning boss Micheál Donoghue.

“We would envisage next weekend as a knockout game,” said Shefflin. “We want to qualify for the Leinster final, so do Dublin. It should be set up for a good battle between the sides. That bit of pressure is starting to come.”

The loss of Cathal Mannion to yet another hamstring injury and a knock to the head which ended wing-back Fintan Burke’s afternoon, were the downsides on an afternoon where Galway led by more than double scores, 2-15 to 1-7, at the interval, having played with the breeze.

Conor Whelan got both goals after Antrim got off the mark with a goal from a penalty from Conal Cunning after just over a minute when Galway goalkeeper Eanna Murphy escaped a black card for hauling down Niall McKenna.

Antrim, seeking a first championship win over Galway in 80 years, kept plugging away even if their sights were on next weekend’s possible relegation showdown with Westmeath, but the scores and goals kept flowing after the restart with Kevin Cooney, after a great passing move, Tom Monaghan and Liam Collins rattling the net.

The points kept flowing from both sides without the final issue ever being questioned. Next weekend the business stuff will start for both these sides. Not before time after another painfully one-sided game.

Galway: E Murphy; J Grealish, G McInerney, D Morrissey; P Mannion (0-2), D Burke, F Burke; J Cooney (0-2), C Mannion; R Glennon, E Niland (0-8, 0-3f, 0-2 ‘65), C Cooney (0-7); K Cooney (1-2), C Whelan (2-0), D McLaughlin (0-4). Subs: T Monaghan (1-2) for C Mannion (7), TJ Brennan (0-1) for F Burke (16), A Tuohey (0-1) for D Burke (53), L Collins (1-0) for Whelan (53), J Ryan for J Cooney (63).

Antrim: T Smyth; P Burke (0-3), G Walsh, S Rooney; C Boyd, N O’Connor, R McGarry; K Molloy (0-1), C Cunning (1-3, 1-0pen, 0-2f); E O’Neill (0-1), N McKenna (0-1), D Nugent (0-1); E Og McGarry (0-1), J McNaughton (0-5, 0-2f, 0-1 ‘65), C Johnston (0-3). Subs: J Maskey (0-1) for Nugent (50), D McKiernan (0-2) for Cunning (50), S Walsh for Molloy (53), A Bradley for O’Neill (55-58, blood), C McKiernan for Burke (64).

Referee: M Kennedy (Tipperary).

2023 Electric Ireland GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship Semi-Final

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Galway 3-18 Cork 1-10

Report by Stephen Barry at FBD Semple Stadium for GAA.ie

A sixth consecutive double-digits win elevated Galway into an All-Ireland minor final against neighbours Clare, powered by 1-11 from Aaron Niland.

Cork were dogged in their chase and Barry O’Flynn put a first goal past Galway keeper Shane Murray in almost five hours of hurling, but the Westerners were never rattled. They closed it out with a goal from substitute Harry Holmes.

The first half was nip and tuck, with more wides than scores in the first quarter.

Points from Barry Walsh, Jayden Casey, Finn O’Brien, and O’Flynn had Cork a point ahead after 16 minutes, but Galway outscored them by 2-5 to 0-1 from there to the break.

Star man Niland started with two wides from placed balls but he demonstrated impressive resolve to settle himself thereafter. His third pointed free brought them level.

Galway kept patient with their short-passing game and they began to work goal chances from the space created. Niland, with a shortened grip, got a shot off in a phone box, but Fionn Murphy was equal to it.

Then, Jason Rabbitte drifted inside and after initially falling to the ground, he found his feet to collect Seán Murphy’s delivery and produce a dizzying turn to allow the finish.

And after a Ben Walsh pointed response, Niland picked up on a loose ball, stepped away from two pursuers, and rifled a bullet to the far corner.

A Conor Gilligan effort, tiptoeing along the sideline, and two more Niland frees padded their half-time lead out to nine, 2-8 to 0-5.

Kieran ‘Fraggy’ Murphy brought on Seán O’Callaghan and Conor McCarthy (Glen Rovers) at the break and they made an impact. The latter was involved in the breakthrough goal in the 39th minute.

He fed Barry Walsh who charged through two tacklers before offloading to O’Brien. His initial shot was blocked on the line by Thomas Blake but O’Flynn followed in to finish.

Casey opened up Galway with a show of pace but Murray saved, although it was called back for a free. Walsh tapped that over and added another from play. Suddenly, the deficit was three, 2-9 to 1-9.

Galway would outscore them by 1-9 to 0-1 from there to the finish.

A HawkEye point by Colm Burke settled the Tribesmen as they clipped the next 1-4, culminating in a goal from Holmes, created by Ed O’Reilly.

That put 11 in it although Cork kept plugging away, with two close-range Barry Walsh frees saved and Murray denying Brian Lynch too.

Scorers for Galway: Aaron Niland 1-11 (0-10fs), Jason Rabbitte, Harry Holmes 1-1 each; Conor Gilligan 0-2; Cullen Killeen, Colm Burke, Michael Fallon 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cork: Barry O’Flynn 1-2, Barry Walsh 0-5 (3fs) Ben Walsh, Jayden Casey, Finn O’Brien 0-1 each.

Galway: Shane Murray; Thomas Blake, Seán Murphy, Gearóid King; Dylan Quirke, Donnacha Campbell, Ed O’Reilly; Michael Burke, Cullen Killeen; Conor Gilligan, Colm Burke, Jason Rabbitte; Brian Callanan, Darragh Counihan, Aaron Niland.
Subs: Harry Holmes for Callanan (39), Michael Fallon for Campbell (50), Stephen Keane for M Burke (55), Jonah Donnellan for Blake (58), Eoghan Mulleady for Killeen (59).

Cork: Fionn Murphy; Cillian O’Callaghan, Darragh McCarthy, Cárthaigh Cronin; Johnny Galvin, Ben Walsh, David O’Leary; James O’Leary, Barry O’Flynn; Johnny Murphy, Jayden Casey, Zack Biggane; Ronan Dooley, Barry Walsh, Finn O’Brien.
Subs: Seán O’Callaghan for Galvin (h-t), Conor McCarthy (Glen Rovers) for J Murphy (HT), Oier O’Callaghan for J O’Leary (49), Patrick Walsh for Dooley (53), Brian Lynch for O’Flynn (54).

Referee: Thomas Gleeson (Dublin).

Hat-trick from Whelan helps Galway ease past Westmeath

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Galway 6-33 Westmeath 0-17

Kilkenny legend Henry Shefflin praised his Galway charges for “going about their business very well” in a 34-point demolition of Westmeath in Mullingar on Saturday evening.

“It was a championship game with two points on offer and it was very important that we prepared properly for it, and the lads produced a professional performance,” the winning manager added. However, in truth, this was a no-contest from start to finish, with Joe Fortune’s depleted side outclassed in virtually every facet of the game.

In this regard, Fortune opined: “The lads who put on Westmeath jerseys are very proud to do so, but it is very difficult when we are missing the calibre of player that we are.”

Their main absentee was All Star nominee and top scorer in recent years, Killian Doyle, while their goal scorer against Dublin a week earlier, Niall Mitchell, was also on the injured list.

Galway settled quickly and they were 0-6 to 0-2 ahead after 13 minutes, the first three points coming from Evan Niland (including two frees). On the quarter-hour mark, Conor Whelan scored his first goal and the floodgates opened.

Six minutes later, Whelan doubled his goal haul, with solid goalkeeper Noel Conaty unlucky not to keep his low shot out. Westmeath responded with what proved to be their only two points from play of the half, courtesy of former Galway player Davy Glennon and Joey Boyle.

Great approach play by Liam Collins and Kevin Cooney teed up Whelan for his third goal in the 25th minute. Four minutes later, Brian Concannon rifled an unstoppable shot to the roof of the Lake County net. Niland was unerring from placed balls and some quality Galway points from play also ensued, leaving them in front by 4-16 to 0-7 at the break.

Hat-trick hero Whelan was replaced at half-time, but the Tribesmen’s fifth goal still arrived less than three minutes after play resumed, Kevin Cooney the man on target on this occasion. Impressive sub Declan McLoughlin raised the winners’ sixth green flag in the 64th minute after producing a great catch. Cormac Boyle was denied by Eanna Murphy in what was the Lake County’s only clear cut goal chance in the 48th minute. Overall, Galway had 13 different scorers in what was a very facile win.

Shefflin was aware that tougher challenges lay ahead when he stated: “We made a couple of changes and that brought energy to the team. It was good to get the goals and to be threatening for goals throughout. We played with a good tempo and a good speed. Competition in the squad is good. To be fair to Westmeath, they have had a couple of difficult weekends and they just don’t have the strength-in-depth that we have when they lose players.”

For his part, Fortune conceded: “I thought we were poor in the first half and stood off Galway. Our second half was a bit better. We are fighting on the flat of our back to stay in the Liam MacCarthy Cup. We have a week’s break now and we need it, psychologically and physically.”

Scorers for Galway: C Whelan 3-1, E Niland 0-10 (6f, 1‘65’), B Concannon 1-3, D McLoughlin, K Cooney 1-2 each, C Mannion, L Collins 0-4 each, D Burke 0-2, P Mannion, C Fahy, S Linnane, M McManus, J Ryan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Westmeath: N O’Brien 0-10 (9f), D Glennon 0-2, R Greville, G Greville, J Boyle, D McNicholas, C Doyle 0-1 each.

Galway: E Murphy; D Morrissey, G McInerney, TJ Brennan; P Mannion, D Burke, F Burke; C Fahy, J Cooney; B Concannon, C Mannion, C Whelan; E Niland, K Cooney, L Collins.

Subs: D McLoughlin for Whelan (h-t), S Linnane for J Cooney (43), E Lawless for D Burke (43), J Ryan for Concannon (53), M McManus for Collins (61).

Westmeath: N Conaty; A Craig, C Shaw, J Bermingham; T Doyle, R Greville, C McCormack; G Greville, C Boyle; K Regan, N O’Brien, J Boyle; D Williams, D Glennon, E Keyes.

Subs: S McGovern for Craig (h-t), D McNicholas for Williams (46), C Doyle for Regan (46), D Clinton for C Boyle (55), P Clarke for Keyes (69).

Referee: K Jordan (Tipperary).

Leinster SHC: Late Galway rally earns a draw

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Leinster Senior Football Championship

Kilkenny 0-28 Galway 1-25

Young substitute Declan McLoughlin landed a splendid late point, deep into stoppage time, to ensure the Leinster SHC spoils were divided.

Galway struck three points in a row in the closing stages to deny an Eoin Cody inspired Kilkenny outfit.

Cody was in brilliant form for the Cats, mining six points from play, causing the visitors’ significant bother throughout.

At the opposite end of the field Brian Concannon was similarly effective for Galway, who pounced for a sixth minute goal.

That was supplied by Concannon, who gathered a Jack Grealish delivery before rattling the Kilkenny net. Galway led 1-3 to 0-4 at that stage with the opening period providing plenty of scores.

John Donnelly and Cody were effective for Derek Lyng’s charges, who subsequently hit the front as the interval approached.

A couple of points, though, from Evan Niland ensured the teams departed deadlocked, 0-16 to 1-13 at the interval.

After the restart Kilkenny enjoyed a productive spell with Billy Ryan, TJ Reid, Cody, and Adrian Mullen clipping neat points for the black and amber side, who led 0-26 to 1-18 with just over 13 minutes remaining.

Galway remained defiant with replacements Jason Flynn, Liam Collins, and Declan McLoughlin all rifling over important scores in the closing stages.

Scorers for Kilkenny: TJ Reid 0-9 (8fs), Eoin Cody 0-6, Darragh Corcoran, Adrian Mullen, John Donnelly, Billy Ryan, and Martin Keoghan 0-2 each, Mikey Butler, Timmy Clifford, and David Blanchfield 0-1 each.

Scorers for Galway: Brian Concannon 1-5, Evan Niland 0-7 (6fs), Conor Whelan 0-2, Padraic Mannion, Daithi Burke, Joseph Cooney, Cianan Fahy, Ronan Glennon, Cathal Mannion, Kevin Cooney, Conor Cooney, Jason Flynn, Liam Collins, and Declan McLoughlin 0-1 each.

Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh; David Blanchfield, Richie Reid, Padraig Walsh; Darragh Corcoran, Conor Fogarty; Timmy Clifford, Adrian Mullen, John Donnelly; Billy Ryan, TJ Reid, Eoin Cody.

Subs: Martin Keoghan for Clifford (HT), Cian Kenny for P Walsh (46), Alan Murphy for Donnelly (65), Cillian Buckley for Fogarty (70+3).

Galway: Eanna Murphy; Jack Grealish, Gearoid McInerney, TJ Brennan; Padraic Mannion, Daithi Burke, Joseph Cooney; Cianan Fahy, Ronan Glennon; Cathal Mannion, Conor Cooney, Kevin Cooney; Conor Whelan, Brian Concannon, Evan Niland.

Subs: Jason Flynn for C Cooney (58), Fintan Burke for Glennon (60), Liam Collins for Fahy (65), Declan McLoughlin for Whelan (68).

Referee: J Murphy (Limerick).

Leinster SHC: Niland inspires Galway

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Leinster Senior Hurling Championship

Galway 0-24 Wexford 2-12

By Cian O’Connell at Pearse Stadium

Despite conceding two goals in the first four minutes, Galway still cruised to a convincing win over Wexford in Salthill.

Prompted by the splendid Evan Niland, who rifled over seven sweet points from play, Galway dictated the third quarter to seize control.

Level at the interval, 0-11 to 2-5, Galway dominated after the restart with Niland an influential figure.

Either side of half-time Galway, came from three behind, to score 12 out of 13 points. That was when the damage happened with Wexford unable to recover.

In that spell, though, Wexford did miss an opportunity when trailing by 0-17 to 2-6, but Conor McDonald’s 45th minute penalty was saved by Eanna Murphy.

That was a crucial moment in a game that commenced with Wexford plundering two goals initially.

TJ Brennan thundered forward to mine a point for the locals, but then Darragh Egan’s outfit pounced.

Conor McDonald appeared to get a deft touch following a Liam Óg McGovern delivery in the second minute.

McGovern was causing Galway some bother adding a second goal almost immediately as Wexford edged five ahead.

Under duress Galway did manage to nail five of the next six points as the gap was trimmed significantly, 2-1 to 0-6.

Subsequently couple of frees from Rory O’Connor and two Cathal Dunbar efforts ensured Wexford were 2-5 to 0-8 ahead as the interval approached.

Crucially Henry Shefflin’s team struck three on the spin before the break courtesy of Niland (two frees) and Conor Cooney to level.

With the issue delicately poised, Galway pulled clear impressively when the action recommenced.

Niland was outstanding, while at the opposite end of the field Pádraic Mannion supplied leadership and class defensively.

Conor Whelan, Conor Cooney, and Brian Concannon contributed scores in Galway’s spell of supremacy.

When McDonald’s penalty was thwarted hope drained from Wexford’s challenge. Late on Galway’s conversion rate dipped dramatically illustrated by 0-24 from 41 attempts.

It didn’t matter too much, though, because a victory was secured ahead of next weekend’s intriguing trip to UPMC Nowlan Park.

Scorers for Galway: Evan Niland 0-13 (5fs, 165), Brian Concannon, Conor Whelan, and Conor Cooney 0-2 each, TJ Brennan, Cathal Mannion, Liam Collins, Ronan Glennon, and Kevin Cooney 0-1 each.

Scorers for Wexford: Rory O’Connor 0-5 (5fs), Liam Óg McGovern 1-2, Conor McDonald 1-0, Cathal Dunbar 0-2, Matthew O’Hanlon, Conor Hearne, and Jack O’Connor 0-1 each.

Galway: Eanna Murphy; TJ Brennan, Gearóid McInerney, Jack Grealish; Padraic Mannion, Daithí Burke, Joseph Cooney; Ronan Glennon, Cathal Mannion; Tom Monaghan, Conor Cooney, Brian Concannon; Evan Niland, Conor Whelan, Kevin Cooney.

Subs: Cianan Fahy for Concannon (56-58, temporary), Fintan Burke for J Cooney (58), Cianan Fahy for Glennon (61), Jason Flynn for Concannon (63), Liam Collins for Mannion (68), Darren Morrissey for Brennan (69).

Wexford: James Lawlor; Matthew O’Hanlon, Liam Ryan, Conor Devitt; Simon Donohoe, Conor Foley, Shane Reck; Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Conor Hearne; Oisín Foley, Rory O’Connor, Charlie McGuckin; Liam Óg McGovern, Conor McDonald, Cathal Dunbar.

Subs: Jack O’Connor for O Foley (22-26, temporary), Jack O’Connor for McGuckin (44), Mikie Dwyer for O’Keeffe (47), Richie Lawlor for O Foley (56), Kevin Foley for Hearne (61), Joe O’Connor for C Foley (70).

Referee: Seán Stack (Dublin).

Allianz HL D1: Emphatic win for Galway

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Allianz Hurling League Division One Group A

Galway 4-27 Westmeath 1-12

By Gerry Buckley at TEG Cusack Park

Galway and Westmeath rounded off their round robin fixtures in this year’s Allianz Hurling League Divsion 1A in showery conditions in
Mullingar this afternoon, with the visitors winning by a somewhat flattering 24-point margin.

The Tribesmen were three points to the good in as many minutes courtesy of Cianan Fahy, Brian Concannon and Liam Collins. Westmeath lost their marquee defender Tommy Doyle after a bang of the sliotar in the head in the eighth minute, a major blow given the absence of their star forward Killian Doyle. In the latter’s absence, Niall O’Brien was on free-taking duty and he had a mixed afternoon from placed balls.

Henry Shefflin’s charges were 0-5 to 0-0 up before their opponents struck for a hat-trick of unanswered points from the sticks of Jack Galvin, Kevin Regan, and O’Brien (a free).

Westmeath’s fourth point came from Galway native Davy Glennon (whose brother Ronan lined out for the winners) and the Connacht side led by 0-10 to 0-4 when Ciaran Doyle, a twin brother of the absent Killian, did well to get in a one-handed strike for a tonic goal for the team under the tutelage of Joe Fortune.

It was 0-12 to 1-4 in Galway’s favour when Concannon rifled home a great goal from a tight angle with exactly 35 minutes on the clock. With Conor Cooney striking four points from play in the first moiety and Evan Niland converting six placed balls (including a ninth-minute ’65’), Galway led by 1-14 to 1-5 at the interval.

A classy point from play by O’Brien was an encouraging start to the second half for Westmeath, but Galway were always able to pick off points when needed. Indeed, they ended up with 13 different scorers on the day. Despite the home team – with Ciaran Doyle prominent – scoring four unanswered points between the 48th and 55th minutes, Galway still led by 1-19 to 1-11 when sub Declan McLoughlin availed of one of many unforced Westmeath errors to rifle the ball past Conor Bracken in the 59th minute.

Galway scored the last 2-7 of the contest without reply from the outclassed men in the changed green and maroon jerseys. The two goals came with time almost up courtesy of Jason Flynn and Tiernan Killeen, and Gavin Lee still had time to score a last-gasp point.

Much of the post-match Galway chat in the crowd focused on David Burke’s cruciate injury, while Westmeath eyes were already firmly set on next Saturday’s Division One relegation play-off against Laois.

Scorers for Galway: E Niland 0-11 (8fs, 1’65’), C Cooney 0-5, B Concannon, D McLoughlin, J Flynn 1-1 each, T Killeen 1-0, John Cooney 0-2, C Fahy, L Collins, G Lee, TJ Brennan, P Mannion, K Cooney 0-1 each.

Scorers for Westmeath: C Doyle 1-4 (1f), N O’Brien 0-5 (4f), J Galvin, D Glennon, K Regan 0-1 each.

Galway: E Murphy; D Morrissey, D Burke, TJ Brennan; P Mannion, J Fitzpatrick, T Killeen; C Fahy, R Glennon; John Cooney, L Collins, C Cooney; E Niland, B Concannon, K Cooney.

Subs: D McLoughlin for Collins (46), J Flynn for C Cooney (54), G Lee for John Cooney (63), Joseph Cooney for Glennon (63), D O’Shea for Concannon (65), M McManus for McLoughlin (blood, 70+1).

Westmeath: C Bracken; G Greville, J Bermingham, C Shaw; A Craig, T Doyle, R Greville; J Galvin, S McGovern; K Regan, C Doyle, E Keyes; N O’Brien, S Clavin, D Glennon. Subs: D Egerton for T Doyle (inj., 8), J Gillen for O’Brien (inj., 52), P Clarke for Glennon (59), M Cunningham for McGovern (67), C Boyle for Bermingham (67), P Maxwell for Galvin (70).

Referee: K Jordan (Tipperary).

Ronan Glennon, Galway, and Tony Kelly and Ryan Taylor, Clare, in Allianz Hurling League action at Cusack Park. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Allianz HL D1: Galway defeat Clare in Ennis

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Allianz Hurling League Division One Group A

Galway 1-24 Clare 0-22

By Eoin Brennan at Cusack Park

Galway maintained their hold over neighbours Clare after a storming second half performance at Cusack Park, Ennis.

It was an outcome that couldn’t have been foreseen when the hosts raced out of the blocks to soar 0-8 to 0-1 clear after only 14 minutes thanks in the main to Aidan McCarthy (3) and David Reidy (2). However, there would be a total sea-change over the next 10 minutes as Galway brought back Conor Cooney as an extra midfielder and eventually slashed the areas to just the minimum as Evan Niland (3) and an inspirational Daithi Burke point helped revive the visitors challenge.

That margin would remain until the break at 0-12 to 0-11 but now backed by the slight conditions, Henry Shefflin’s side incrementally seized control on the restart.

Following a prolonged wrestle for supremacy that saw the sides level on four occasions by the 47th minute, Galway upped the ante for the final quarter, outscoring their neighbours by 1-9 to 0-7 including a decisive Conor Whelan goal in the 59th minute.

Conor Cooney produced a rousing second half display to complete a five point haul from play which would be enough to fend off an inevitable home backlash and ensure that the Banner’s search for a first derby victory since 2013 will have to wait until at least the summer.

Both sides are still in the hunt for the semi-finals with Clare requiring a victory over Cork and Galway needing a big win against Westmeath in order to advance.

Scorers for Galway: Evan Niland 0-9 (5fs, 1’65), Conor Cooney 0-5, Conor Whelan 1-0, Daithi Burke, Kevin Cooney, and Tom Monaghan 0-2 each, Ronan Glennon, Brian Concannon, Joseph Cooney, and Sean Linnane 0-1 each.

Scorers for Clare: Aidan McCarthy 0-7 (6fs), David Fitzgerald 0-4, David Reidy 0-3, Ian Galvin 0-2, Ryan Taylor, Cathal Malone, Peter Duggan, Cian Galvin, Robin Mounsey, and Seadna Morey 0-1 each.

Galway: Eanna Murphy; Jack Grealish, Gearoid McInerney, TJ Brennan; Padraic Mannion, Daithi Burke, Joseph Cooney; Ronan Glennon, Tom Monaghan; Conor Cooney, Brian Concannon, Cianan Fahy; Evan Niland, Conor Whelan, Kevin Cooney

Subs: Subs: Sean Linnane for Glennon (52), Tiernan Killeen for Burke (57), David Burke for Fahy (67), Declan McLoughlin for Concannon (69).

Clare: Eamonn Foudy; Adam Hogan, Conor Cleary, Paul Flanagan; Diarmuid Ryan, John Conlon, Cian Galvin; Cathal Malone, Tony Kelly; David Fitzgerald, Peter Duggan, Ryan Taylor; David Reidy, Aidan McCarthy, Davie Conroy

Subs: Brandon O’Connell for Ryan (44), Robin Mounsey for Conroy (45), Seadna Morey for Duggan (54), Ian Galvin for McCarthy (62), Aron Shanagher for Reidy (67).

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork).

Declan Dalton was the key man for Cork this afternoon, scoring 0-8 and controlling the play around him.

Goal hungry Cork take a chunk out of Galway

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Just five points between the teams at the end of a February league game, and a contest in which Galway played the entirety of the second half with 14 men, would hardly suggest the type of form that should be treated as cast iron in advance of more meaningful matches in the summer – and yet there was a real sense permeating the sea air in Salthill this afternoon that Cork had just offered substantial evidence that they were going to be a force to be reckoned with this summer.

Allianz Hurling League Division One

Cork 4-24 – Galway 3-22

It wasn’t just that they won so convincingly; we should bear in mind here that there were eleven points between the teams before Martin McManus’ goal in the last minute of normal time. It was also that it was a Cork team built around dominant performers in positions that were in 2022 perceived to be their vulnerable spots. Ciarán Joyce’s emergence as a force at centre back had been flagged up, while Declan Downey’s physical presence as a ball-winner was well known, so his redeployment on the right wing of the attack looked like a safe bet.

However Conor Lehane’s nomination as captain has seen him step up into the leadership role in fine style, and the real emerging jewel in the Rebel County’s crown appears to be Eoin Downey at full back. Many would have thought that Eoin, who completed his Leaving Cert in 2022, was only keeping the number three jersey warm for his brother Rob, but many more performances like this afternoon’s effort, and Cork manager Pat Ryan will have some tough calls to make.

It’s easy to forget too, after the final whistle sounds, that Cork had to dig themselves out of something of a hole early on too.

Galway’s inside forward line of Martin McManus, Kevin Cooney and Evan Niland were on fire early on, and while Dalton set up Lehane for an goal in the tenth minute to undo some early damage, Cooney responded in kind for the Tribesmen, and a string of good points saw them move 1-9 to 1-4 ahead by the end of the first quarter.

A significant number of their scores came from Niland’s frees, but that spoke volumes about how much space they were able to generate within 40 metres of the Cork goal, and the number of times their inside forwards found themselves one-on-one with their markers, chasing excellent deliveries.

At the other end, it was all about Dalton, as he set up scoring chances – including a goal chance that Shane Barrett hammered into the crossbar – won frees, and converted plenty of points himself. His controlled bat of the sliotar into Barrett set up Cork’s sixth point in a row to push them into the lead after 26 minutes, and they were still playing marginally the better hurling at half-time, with the sides deadlocked at 1-13 each.

In the five minutes after the restart, the contest changed utterly. An uncharacteristic fumble from Cathal Mannion allowed Barrett to steal possession and set up Seán Twomey for a close-range goal, and an infringement by Oisín Salmon during the move saw the Clarinbridge defender receive a second yellow card.

On the next play, Lehane found the net again, and three more points in the next five minutes saw a finely-balanced tie suddenly have nine points between the teams.

That was how it continued for most of the second half, with Galway briefly chipping away a couple of points here and there, but Cork always able to deliver a response. Conor Whelan, who had been quiet in the first half, weighed in with some impressive scores, while McManus continued to battle against the tide, but it seemed like the contest was meandering to a conclusion, until McManus and then Brian Concannon goaled in quick succession, either side of a Cathal Mannion point.

Suddenly two minutes of added time remained, and when Galway were awarded a penalty for a foul on Concannon, Cooney had the chance to cut the gap to two points.

His low effort was saved by Patrick Collins, and the day’s action concluded – but the question of how much today’s events have foreshadowed the summer is very much open.

Scorers for Cork: Conor Lehane 2-3, Declan Dalton 0-8 (0-2f) Seán Twomey 2-0, Shane Kingston 0-6 (0-4f), Shane Barrett 0-4, Cormac Beausang 0-1, Brian Hayes 0-1, Conor Cahalane 0-1.

Scorers for Galway: Evan Niland 0-11 (0-8f), Martin McManus 1-3, Kevin Cooney 1-1, Brian Concannon 1-0, Conor Whelan 0-2, Pádraic Mannion 0-1, Jason Flynn 0-1, Cianán Fahy 0-1, Cathal Mannion 0-1, Liam Collins 0-1f.

Cork: Patrick Collins; Conor O’Callaghan, Eoin Downey, Eoin Roceh; Tommy O’Connell, Ciarán Joyce, Cormac O’Brien; Brian Roche, Sam Quirke; Declan Dalton, Conor Lehane, Seán Twomey; Cormac Beausang, Shane Barrett, Shane Kingston.

Subs: Luke Meade for Quirke (39), Brian Hayes for Beausang (47), Conor Cahalane for Barrett (55), Pádraig Power for Kingston (59), Colin Walsh for Roche (69).

Galway: Darach Fahy; Oisín Salmon, Gearóid McInerney; Jack Grealish; Pádraic Mannion, Joseph Cooney, Darren Morrissey; Gavin Lee, Seán Linnane; Tom Monaghan, Conor Whelan, Jason Flynn; Evan Niland, Kevin Cooney, Martin McManus.

Subs: Cianán Fahy for Monaghan (half-time), Cathal Mannion for Lee (43), Ronan Murphy for Morrissey (53), Brian Concannon for Flynn (58), Liam Collins for Niland (66).

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)

Kevin Egan reports from Pearse Stadium