Cork 1-18 Galway 1-14:National Hurling League: Galway's hopes of finishing their Allianz Hurling League campaign on a high note were dashed by Cork in a tame encounter at Pearse Stadium, Galway yesterday.
With nothing more than pride at stake for the home side and Cork needing an unlikely series of events to enable them to go through to the decider, there was little real bite to enlighten the 2,000 or so spectators.
The home county won the toss but decided to play into the stiff breeze and it seemed to have backfired on them when the visitors swept into a 0-11 to 0-3 lead with 10 minutes of the opening half remaining. Young Cork midfielder John Gardiner was on song with long range frees and the Cork full forwards were troubling the Galway defence with Joe Deane and Setanta Ó hÁilpín particularly dangerous. Gardiner, Deane and Ó hÁilpín accounted for most of the Cork scores, with wing back Tommy Kenny, Derek Barrett and Ronan Curran also getting on the scoresheet. Alan Kerins, Richie Murray (free) and Kevin Broderick replied.
Had Richie Murray converted a penalty after Kevin Broderick was fouled. Galway could have been closer, but three unanswered points from Richie Murray, Kevin Broderick and Alan Kerins helped them close the gap as the interval approached. However, an Alan Browne point made it 0-12 to 0-6 at half time.
A six-point advantage facing a strong breeze was no guarantee of victory but Cork got a great start to the second half when Alan Browne pointed within 30 seconds.
When Setanta Ó hÁilpíbroke through from the right wing, he was hauled down in the square and Ben O'Connor duly found the net from the ensuing penalty.
Galway looked to be in serious trouble, 1-13 to 0-6 in arrears, but they showed plenty of fighting spirit as some significant tightening up at the back and hard work by midfielders Richie Murray and John Conroy paid dividends.
A Richie Murray goal from a 20-metre free cut the deficit to eight points with 20 minutes remaining and suddenly Cork's lead didn't look so secure.
Galway moved David Forde to lead the attack, Cathal Moore to midfield, Richie Murray to wing forward and David Tierney to the edge of the square in a bid to unlock the Cork defence.
Although Seanie McGrath scored another Cork point, two Murray frees and a fine effort from play by the same player were augmented by a brace of delightful scores from difficult angles by Alan Kerins and a further point by corner back Damien Joyce left just three points between the sides.
Cork were very much on the back foot at that stage as time began to run out, Seanie McGrath settled Leeside nerves with an insurance score and they held on for victory despite intense Galway pressure.
With a under-strength side Galway will take some plusses from the game including the form of Goalkeeper Ciaran Callanan, Damien Joyce, Tony Óg Regan, Ollie Canning, Fergal Healy and Declan O'Brien.
Scorers: Cork: J Gardiner (0-5, 0-4 frees, 0-1 '65'); J Deane (0-5, 0-1 free), B O'Connor (1-0 pen), S McGrath (0-2), A Browne (0-2), R Curran, T Kenny, D Barrett, Setanta O'hAilpin (0-1 each).
Galway: R Murray (1-5, 1-3 frees), A Kerins (0-5), K Broderick (0-2), D Tierney (0-1), D Joyce (0-1).
CORK: D Og Cusack; W Sherlock, P Mulcahy, M Prendergast; Sean Og O'hAilpin, R Curran, T Kenny; D Barrett, J Gardiner; B O'Connor, N McCarthy, S McGrath; Setanta O'hAilpin, J Deane, A Browne. Subs: N Ronan for McCarthy, J O'Connor for Barrett, McCarthy for Setanta O' hAilpin.
GALWAY: C Callanan; D Joyce, T Og Regan, O Canning; F Healy, D O'Brien, B Mahony; R Murray , J Conroy; D Forde, C Moore, D Tierney; A Kerins, O Fahy, K Broderick. Subs: E McEntee for Mahony, K Burke for Tierney, D Cloonan for McEntee.
Referee: J Sexton (Limerick).
