Impressive minors cut loose in a mis-match

Galway 8-26Antrim 0-12

Cian O’Connell

THE true worth of this Galway minor hurling team will be assessed over the next few weeks, but there was so much to admire in the clinical manner Mattie Murphy's charges annihilated Antrim in Saturday's All Ireland quarter-final at Parnell Park.

Ultimately, the 38 point margin was an accurate barometer of how more advanced Galway are as they were far too polished and potent for a hapless Antrim. These type of games against inferior opposition provide different challenges as it is frequently more a test of the mind than of wrists or speed of foot.

Galway's youngsters were forced to deal with the heavy burden of favouritism which brings an added pressure, but they were extremely comfortable from the outset as Antrim's frailties were exposed by the ruthless Tribesmen.

A decent start was craved and that is precisely what a physical Galway outfit managed, quickly showing Antrim that they were never going to be competitive. Though there was the usual Antrim defiance early on with a couple of players offering glimpses of ability, Galway were simply operating on a higher level.

They made few errors during an opening period that was sprinkled with flashes of skill with three goals pocketed inside 16 minutes. By that stage, it was apparent that all that needed to be decided was Galway's ultimate winning margin, but they kept inflicting damage before the interval.

Murphy was even able to withdraw Jonathan Glynn and Shane Maloney at the break such was Galway's total supremacy and that really captured the one sided nature of this encounter. To compound Antrim's woes, substitute Jack Carr was able to pilfer a hat trick within nine minutes of his introduction as Galway were in cruise control.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.