Having clawed their way back from significant deficits in both halves, the Galway senior hurlers ran out of steam in the closing minutes of last Sunday’s National League encounter with Tipperary as the hosts ran out five point victors.
It is approaching twenty years since Galway last won a league game in Semple Stadium, but when Seán Linnane brought the sides level for only the second time in the closing minutes it looked as if Henry Shefflin’s men were timing their run to perfection.
They had trailed by six in the first half and eight after a torrid start to the second half, but a run of seven successive points had Galway well and truly back in the contest with the returning Conor Cooney hitting a number of impressive scores, while his brother Shane was another late change to Shefflin’s starting line-up.
In the end, though, Tipperary had enough left in the tank to surge into the lead again, as Seamus Kennedy and Gearóid O’Connor both split the posts before O’Connor fired in an injury-time penalty to seal the win.
Galway’s stated aim of reaching the semi-finals of this competition now relies on them getting a positive result against Limerick, who defeated Westmeath at the weekend, but their defensive effort will need to improve significantly before that contest.
Sixteen points were conceded in the first half but the three point deficit could have been a lot wider had Tipperary’s Shane Ryan converted one of a number of goal chances. Galway’s scramble defence was tested to the limits at times and Darach Fahy’s restart options were under severe pressure.
Thankfully Galway lifted the siege in the second quarter with Conor Whelan and Tom Monaghan hitting important scores, but again Liam Cahill’s men took over after half time despite Galway having the aid of the prevailing breeze. Cahill had been forced into two injury-enforced first half changes, but Mark Kehoe made a telling contribution after replacing Jake Morris.
Elsewhere in Division 1 Dublin needed a late goal to get the better of Antrim in Corrigan Park, while there were also wins for Clare over Waterford, Kilkenny over Cork, while Wexford drew with Offaly.
TIPPERARY: B Hogan; C Morgan (0-1 ), M Breen, R Maher; C Bowe (0-2 ), R Byrne, B O’Mara; W Connors (0-2 ), S Kennedy (0-1 ); J McGrath (0-1 ), G O’Connor (1-13, 1-0 pen, 8fs, 1 ‘65 ), A Tynan (0-1 ); S Kenneally (0-1 ), J Morris (0-1 ), S Ryan. Subs: J Ryan for O’Mara (16 ), M Kehoe (0-3 ) for Morris (21 ), B Seymour for S Ryan (52 ), D Stakelum for Tynan (61 ), P Maher for D Stakelum (64 ), C Stakelum for Kenneally (69 ).
GALWAY: D Fahy; J Grealish, P Mannion, TJ Brennan; R Glennon, S Cooney, C Fahy (0-1 ); D O’Shea (0-1 ), G Lee (0-2 ); T Monaghan (0-2 ), E Niland (0-10, 9fs ), John Cooney; C Cooney (0-5 ), C Whelan (0-2 ), J Flynn. Subs: D Morrissey for Brennan (24 ), Daithí Burke for Glennon (35 ), S Linnane (0-1 ) for S Cooney (44 ), J Ryan for J Cooney (52 ).
Referee: C Lyons (Cork ).
