ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION ONE: Waterford 1-17 Galway 1-16:WE CAME armed with calculators and smart phones, confident we could keep on top of this furious end to the Allianz Hurling League. Instead the furious end to events here demanded our full attention, and the distraction of what was happening elsewhere simply had to wait.
Galway needed to win, we knew that, to keep alive their hopes of defending the league title: Waterford could make the final too if other results went their way. In the end, after the outcome in Cork was announced, both teams lost out – Waterford missing out by a point, while Galway dropped further down the table, ending up fifth.
But Waterford’s narrow victory still left their manager Davy Fitzgerald smiling in the warm sunshine around Walsh Park.
Fitzgerald had plenty to be satisfied about. His team had mostly outplayed, outclassed and certainly outfought Galway, then had the nerve to find the winning spurt at the finish. It was close, and had Galway held their nerve a little better they might well have stolen it, but there could be no argument that Waterford were the better team on the day, particularly as they started without several so-called first-choice players.
Galway, in contrast, welcomed back some of the big guns – including a certain Joe Canning, plus Damien Hayes, Kevin Hynes, and full back Shane Kavanagh. They enjoyed mixed fortunes, although Canning, while obviously a little short of match fitness, soon reminded us why he’s still the most feared forward in the game.
Waterford had started with significantly greater intent, setting the pace for most of the first half – and after Shane Walsh’s explosive run early in the second half was finished into the Galway net they pressed further ahead, leading by six points after 45 minutes.
Suddenly Galway needed something special to get back in touch, and so, as if on cue, up popped Canning. Aongus Callanan drove in a high ball and Canning produced one of his trademark catches and comfortably turned Waterford full back Liam Lawlor. There was only one thing on his mind after that as his emphatic finish to the net left Clinton Hennessy with no chance.
That brought Galway back to within two points, with 20 minutes left to play. After starting at centre forward, Canning was now hanging around the goalmouth like a hungry wolf. Yet Galway couldn’t find their target man often enough and failed to build any regular attack, playing only in spurts. That allowed Waterford to regain the momentum.
Galway’s problems stemmed from their inability to build movement from midfield. Iarla Tannian scored two points from his limited possession, and Hayes – in his first start in over a year – also ended with 0-3. Yet these scores either came in isolation or against the run of play, and at no stage did Galway impose themselves like in the earlier rounds of the league.
Waterford meanwhile have made progress in some unexpected areas. Pauric Mahony was in terrific form with the placed ball, and after hitting three frees in the first half, continued punishing Galway for conceding fouls within scoring range.
Kevin Moran underlined Waterford’s dominance at midfield too by firing over a big point. Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh was producing typically robust defending, along with the ageless Tony Browne. While at the other end, Kavanagh was replaced after Shane Walsh had clearly got the legs on him (Walsh ended with an excellent 1-4).
But Galway weren’t dead yet – and Canning inspired them, first with a sweet point from play, then a long-range free. When sub Niall Healy added a point too Galway were back to within two points with fives minutes remaining. Debutant Barry Daly, who has pace at midfield but still needs to be more physical, added a second point from play – and so, again on cue, up popped Canning for the equaliser after Hayes turned provider.
Suddenly the home support was on their feet, realising Galway sensed the win. Iarla Tannian had just had a shot at goal saved as the visitors looked for a green flag. Instead Waterford regained possession, and won another cheap free. It was far from easy, just off the 65-metre line, but Mahony produced another perfect strike. He finished with 0-9, eight from placed balls, and certainly gives Waterford assurance when it comes to free-taking.
One last rush at goal from Galway was cleared out to roars of approval from the home crowd. Waterford may have missed out on a league final, but beating Galway in a close finish is good enough for now.
WATERFORD:C Hennessy; J Maher, L Lawlor, D Fives; T Browne, M Walsh, Philip Mahony; K Moran (0-1), E McGrath; G Crotty, S O'Sullivan (0-1), Pauric Mahony (0-9, 0-8 frees); S Casey (0-1), S Walsh (1-4), B O'Sullivan (0-1). Subs: D O'Sullivan for McGrath (52 mins), E Murphy for O'Sullivan (55 mins), J Nagle for Lawlor (67 mins).
GALWAY:J Grealish; D Joyce, S Kavanagh, D Collins; D Burke, T Og Regan (0-1, free), A Cullinane; J Coen (0-1), B Daly (0-2); D Hayes (0-3), J Canning (1-6, 0-4 frees), K Hynes; E Forde, I Tannian (0-2), A Callanan. Subs: G O'Halloran for Kavanagh (45 mins), C Donnellan for Hynes (46 mins), N Healy (0-1) for Forde (53 mins), D Barry for Cullinane (61 mins).
Referee: C McAllister (Cork).
Davy happy to maintain home record
SO BOTH Waterford and Galway are sucked into the vacuum that marks the end of the league and the start of the championship, but one of them won't mind the wait – and the other one could probably do with it, writes Ian O'Riordan.
For Davy Fitzgerald there were mixed emotions at missing out on the league final, knowing the extra game would have served them well but knowing too the victory was still a nice way to sign off.
“It’s still a good finish to the league, and believe it or not, we haven’t been beaten in Waterford since March of 2009. That was the last time we lost here, at home. We didn’t want to let that record go today, so put a bit of pressure on ourselves, not to let that go.
“Galway were coming down too after a heavy loss to Tipp, so we knew they’d be up for it too. So we’d be happy enough in that regard. It was a good game, and in fairness the two teams could have won it. . . . but we still have a lot of improving to do.
“You have to appreciate it was Joe Canning’s first game back in months so he is not going to be razor sharp. I thought Michael Walsh had a great game on him . . . I know Shane Walsh, Shane O’Sullivan, all these guys, played well but I would be happy enough in general . . one or two things still to tighten up.”
Galway manager John McIntyre was searching a little harder to find some positives, but felt it was at least a big improvement on the hammering the got from Tipperary.
“It was, but we weren’t playing the All-Ireland champions today. We reshaped and remodelled our team for today; the four guys who came back in, we needed to get a big match into them ahead of the championship, we had to prioritise that. We didn’t fall away today, we showed a lot of heart, which wasn’t evident against Tipperary.
“But we have a mountain of work to do ahead of the championship, and our last two outings highlight that. Our inability to win primary ball continues to kill us and if we don’t sort that out, our championship prospects will be completely undermined. This match will bring us on, but you’re out there to win. Obviously it was a good workout ahead of the championship. We have picked up training for the last fortnight, and we targeted a win here, so this is a big disappointment.”
