Galway live on the edge in hard fought league clash against Limerick

Galway 1-18Limerick 1-11

STEPHEN GLENNONIN KILMALLOCK

IF hurling worked on the same principles as Monopoly, then Galway’s senior hurlers certainly diminished their ‘Get Out of Jail’ card stash against an eager Limerick outfit in this keenly fought, if scrappy National League opener in Kilmallock on Sunday.

Having struggled to get a firm foothold on the contest, Galway’s plight looked extremely perilous when the home side were awarded a 38th minute penalty after corner forward Alan O’Connor was fouled. If Limerick had scored from the placed ball, they would have leaped into a four-point lead, but, more importantly, their confidence levels would have soared and steeled them for the second half battle.

As it was, Galway ‘keeper James Skehill bravely got his foot to Paudie McNamara’s low effort, deflecting it out for a ’65, which O’Connor duly converted to nudge his side into a 1-8 to 0-9 lead. Limerick, though, still had the momentum and an opening day shock was not beyond the bounds of possibility.

Of course, this scenario was incomprehensible before throw-in. Limerick hurling was in turmoil, with 24 of the 2009 panel at odds with entrenched current manager Justin McCarthy. So, this was a new-look Limerick, but what the Shannonsiders lacked in guile and experience, they willingly made up for with guts and youthful endeavour.

In many respects, this Limerick outfit were a side with a point to prove. They got stuck in from the throw-in and stood toe to toe with their Galway rivals for the opening 35 minutes of the first half to lead 1-7 to 0-9 at the break.

Their goal arrived on just 13 minutes, after Galway wing-back Kevin Hynes hesitated for a brief moment in collecting possession and Limerick swept through like a hurricane to gobble up the loose ball. In the resultant move, Cathal Mullane blasted an effort beyond Skehill to catapult the underdogs in an unlikely 1-2 to 0-3 lead.

In fairness, Galway did respond immediately. Cyril Donnellan tallied his second point of the afternoon, before midfielder Niall Cahalan and half-forward David Burke hit further efforts to reclaim a slender advantage.

Still, Galway were far from fluid, showing little of the enthusiasm and movement that they displayed in their Walsh Cup final victory over Dublin. Quite often, though, when a team hits a high one week, they can be a bit flat in their following outing, and this was definitely the case with Galway in the tight confines of Kilmallock.

For more, read page 31 of this week's Connacht Sentinel.