Galway’s highs and lows over a 15-year period
IN the first instalment of a new five-part series, Patrick Earley reflects on his most memorable Galway senior hurling matches of the last 15 years; a spell which began in heart-breaking fashion with an All-Ireland final defeat to Cork, culminating in the ending of a 29-year famine in 2017 when Galway brought Liam McCarthy back West of the Shannon. Cast your mind back to days of near-misses and glorious triumphs, beginning this week with a look at matches 15-13.
#15
Galway 2-22
Cork 1-17
2010 Allianz National Hurling League Final
Saturday, May 2, Semple Stadium
Galway's first significant national trophy since capturing the league title six years previously, the 2010 league success over Cork was a statement of real intent from Galway in their second season under John McIntyre.
There was more to this than just a piece of silverware, however, as Galway set out their stall for the year ahead in a venue which, at the time wasn’t a happy hunting ground for the Tribesmen.
In 2009, ‘08, ‘06 and ‘04, Galway's championship ambitions came to a premature end in Thurles. For McIntyre's side to capture national silverware in the home of Tipperary hurling in the spring of 2010 was something of a watershed moment in some respects.
Not only did they beat Cork, they outclassed Denis Walsh's charges right from the off with a stunning Damien Hayes individual goal after only a minute.
A goal by Cathal Naughton handed Cork the lead for the first and only time in the match at 1-6 to 1-5 but the Galway response was swift and emphatic, with Joe Canning producing what was a trademark goal at the time, plucking a long Donal Barry delivery from the clouds, shrugging off the grappling Eoin Dillon and roofing his shot past Donal Óg Cusack.
Galway maintained that four-point lead to the break, 2-12 to 1-11 and points by Canning and Aidan Harte upon the resumption opened up a gap that Cork never looked like clawing back.
On that Saturday night in Thurles, it looked as though McIntyre may have had a winning formula on his hands for the summer ahead.
He probably wasn't too far off it either, with Tipperary going on to end Kilkenny’s ‘Drive for Five’ after beating Galway with a late salvo in the All-Ireland quarter-final, but that doesn't detract from what was a memorable Saturday night in Thurles.
Galway: C Callanan; D Joyce, S Kavanagh, O Canning; D Barry, T Og Regan, D Collins; G Farragher (0-6, 0-4 frees, 0-1 '65), D Burke (0-1); D Hayes (1-1), C Donnellan (0-1), A Smith (0-2); A Harte (0-3), J Canning (1-5), I Tannian (0-1). Subs used: J Gantley (0-2), K Hynes, A Callanan.
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