Galway take huge step forward

Division One

GALWAY claimed the Allianz GAA National Hurling League title for the first time since 2004 with a 2-22 to 1-17 win over Cork.

Joe Canning was in blistering form for the Westerners as he bagged 1-5 from play but this was a scintillating attacking display from Galway, who could also afford the luxury of 17 wides.

Galway had a dream start when Damien Hayes netted a brilliant solo goal at the Killinan End with just 75 seconds on the watch after cutting in along the right touchline and at half-time, the winners led by 2-12 to 1-11.
The best Cork could do in the second half was cut the gap back to four points with half an hour remaining but this was Galway’s day and Canning called the tune as the scores flowed freely.

Galway will hope to replicate this form against Wexford in the Leinster SHC quarter-final on May 29.

Galway manager John McIntyre

“We’re going to savour the moment and I’m not going to trivialise the league by starting to talk about the championship. It was an important win for Galway and it was their first national silverware in six years so all-in-all, it’s a good day’s work.”

“I was very pleased with the performance and if you get a performance in a final you always give yourself a chance of winning. I’m told it’s Galway’s first every victory over Cork at senior level in a national final. I’ll take that.”

Cork manager Denis Walsh

“This will have focused the minds ahead of the Tipperary game. We know where we stand, we know we’re moving well enough and we’ve a lot of players. We all have to get back to the drawing board”

”We’ve learned that we need to increase the intensity, but everyone would expect that from the league to the championship. We’ll take a few days off to regroup. But I’m very happy with the players, with the effort they put in and they’re in good fettle.”

DIVISION TWO

WEXFORD claimed promotion back to Division One with a 1-16 to 2-09 win over Clare.

Clare scored their first goal in first half stoppage time when Colin Ryan ghosted behind the Wexford cover and finished past Noel Carton.

But Lyng converted a crucial free moments later to ensure that Wexford trailed by just a single point at half-time, 0-6 to 1-4.

The game took another twist in Clare’s favour in the 49th minute when the Banner County scored their second goal.

That score handed Clare a two-point lead, 2-6 to 0-10, but Wexford responded with four unanswered points to assume control again.

A pair of Colin Ryan frees for Clare tied the game at 2-8 to 0-14 before Lyng cut over a beautiful sideline cut from the New stand side of Semple Stadium.

Jonathan Clancy equalised for Clare but after Eoin Quigley sent Wexford a point clear again, veteran forward Rory Jacob scored the killer goal in stoppage time, pouncing on a mistake by Clare goalkeeper Philip Brennan to make the game safe.

Wexford manager Colm Bonnar

”Division 1 is where we should be as we’re a proud hurling county, but I still think Clare are too good to be back in Division 2. They can’t develop hurling there and the GAA should be promoting hurling rather than demoting teams.”

“We were hit by two sucker punches for goals, but we responded very well and came back. This team has great character, though, and we knew they didn’t want to spend another year in Division 2.”

Clare manager Ger O’Loughlin

“We are back in Division 2 and certainly we’re not looking forward to trying to get out of it again next year.”

“I’d love if somebody came up with a solution and brought us back to Division 1 because I think we would hold our own. Trying to rebuild a team, I think we would rebuild much faster there.”