Burke produces a Roy of the Rovers effort to sink Cork

Galway 2-17Cork 2-13

STEPHEN GLENNON at Pairc Ui Chaoimh

Galway’s senior hurlers may not have held the Liam McCarthy Cup in their hands for nearly 25 years but, on days like these, you just have to admit that when the humour is on them they do give value for money. 

In front of a partisan and swelling Páirc Uí Chaoimh crowd on Sunday, the Tribesmen showcased the very best – and worst – of their persona. In the first half, they regressed into old habits and taunted their small band of travelling supporters with some poor handling, loose marking and reckless shooting.

It really was a naïve, if not lazy, first half effort as Galway slipped eight points into arrears by the 27th minute – 1-7 to 0-2 – and they still trailed by 1-9 to 0-7 at the break. Added to this, they hit no fewer than nine wides in this period and lost the free count 9-6 . . . with three of those six Galway frees awarded in the final four minutes of the half.

Yet, in the second period, a more disciplined Galway emerged a rejuvenated side after, one suspects, some home truths were said and reputations, even at this early stage in the young squad’s development, were put on the line.

In any event, the attitude was far better after the interval as Anthony Cunningham’s outfit outscored the home side 2-10 to 1-4. Of this Galway tally, Oranmore/Maree sharpshooter Niall Burke hit 1-1 on the stroke of full-time to snatch the victory and his 69th minute goal can only be described as being of the ‘wonder’ variety.

It was a sweet move in the lead-up. Man-of-the-match and midfielder David Burke, who worked tirelessly throughout, made the delivery with substitute Joseph Cooney, making a deft handpass into space, presenting the Oranmore/Maree man with the opportunity. His first time pull was magnificent. Cork custodian Donal Óg Cusack’s world, for an instant, became a blur.

A minute later, substitute Cyril Donnellan hassled and harried Cusack into a sloppy clearance and Burke picked up the loose possession and shot a tasty effort to secure a four-point victory – a victory that appeared so unlikely in the first half.

Indeed, those opening 27 minutes were something of a nightmare for the visitors, although, you could argue, they were very much authors of their own downfall. Simply, their lacklustre display was as much unforgivable as it was unexplainable, particularly when you think of the efforts they went to in trying to overthrow Tipperary the week previous. 

In any event, Cork had four points through Patrick Horgan (three frees) and Jamie Coughlan – a super score – on the board before the maroon and white who, incredibly, had tallied six wides before eventually finding the target, registered their first points through Damien Hayes and Niall Burke (free) on 15 and 16 minutes respectively.

Despite those Galway efforts, Jimmy Barry Murphy’s men were looking sharper and hungrier and this continued to be reinforced as new kid on the block Conor Lehane and Horgan (two frees) added further points before Cathal Naughton, following good work from Coughlan and Paudie O’Sullivan, ghosted in to net Cork’s first goal on 27 minutes.

It was difficult to see a way back for Galway, given the manner in which they were – or were not – playing at this stage. For some inexplicable reason, they did not look confident in their surroundings or in possession; were, again, struggling under the high ball; too many handpassess were going astray; and the movement of the forwards was not as good as previous games.

In addition, most of the time the forwards were looking for the soft ball and this lack of intensity in this sector was in danger of permeating right throughout the side.

As the home supporters in the crowd were commenting on the gulf in class between the two teams, Galway, for the remainder of the half, began to chip away at the Leesiders’ lead with points from Iarla Tannian, David Burke and Niall Burke (three frees). It left Galway trailing 1-9 to 0-7 – a more manageable deficit – but, still, it was hard to see them overhauling their opponents in the second period.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.