Mannion’s injury mars Galway’s landslide win in one-sided Leinster semi-final

The two-times senior All-Ireland medal winner (1994 and 1998), who on Sunday was inducted into the Leinster GAA Hall of Fame, was given a standing ovation by Offaly and Galway supporters. It was a throwback to a bygone era when Offaly hurling was at the height of its pomp.

Three minutes after throw-in, Offaly corner-forward Oisín Kelly capitalised on hesitancy in the Galway rearguard to give the underdogs a goal to no score lead.

Was this a sign the underdogs were about to rekindle the spirit of Whelahan’s fighting Faithful County teams of the 1990s, and cause the shock of the century? Don’t be ridiculous!

Within three minutes of suffering that setback, Galway had regained the lead rattling off four points without response. And though Offaly drew level again twice before the midway point in the first half, they were completely outclassed.

Offaly deployed two extra players back in defence, but Galway adjusted to it, and their accuracy from long-range points was pretty good despite recording 12 wides in total.

By half-time, leading 1-6 to 0-16, Galway had effectively secured passage to the Leinster Final where they will meet Wexford in a novel showdown on July 2.

Aside from the warm Whelan reception, the crowd was most audible when collectively groaning after the stadium announcer confirmed referee Johnny Ryan had signalled five minutes added-on, which was torture given Galway were home and hosed long before then.

The second-half was merely a procession, as the Galway forwards, in particular Conor Whelan, Shane Moloney and Niall Burke, gave an exhibition of point-scoring.

Whelan was unstoppable and finished the day with seven points from play; and Niall Burke took full advantage of tiredness in Offaly’s defence to land five second-half points from play.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.