Mannion pulls the strings again in a big Galway win

Offaly 1-14

THIS was badly needed. Presented with the perfect opportunity to steady the ship after a string of poor results this spring, the Galway hurlers took full advantage at O’Connor Park on Saturday evening

It turned out to be something of an unexpected turkey shoot in Tullamore as hosts Offaly struggled badly in this round-robin Leinster Championship clash in front of a crowd of just over 10,000.

In the context, however, of their previous weekend’s mauling by Kilkenny, the Galway camp won’t give a toss about Offaly’s deficiencies. This game was tailor-made for them in trying to get up and running for the summer.

Sure, the Tribesmen were gifted two goals, and they still have plenty to work on, but there was a bounce and energy to their overall display compared to the team’s insipid efforts at Nowlan Park seven days previously.

The clash with Offaly still represented a test of Galway’s character and morale, especially when Killian Sampson found the net just three minutes into the contest but, by half-time, the outcome was already settled such was the gulf in standard.

Inspired by Cathal Mannion – along with Cork’s Brian Hayes, arguably the player of the championship so far – TJ Brennan, who scored three mighty points from play, and Colm Molloy, who made a dream debut up front, Galway are at least strongly back in the hunt to emerge from Leinster.

Unfortunately, their commanding 14-point victory has come at a big cost. Defender Daithí Burke, who was making an impressive return in the number three jersey, was brandished a red card before the second half resumed.

Wexford referee James Ownes, who hardly endeared himself to Galway fans with several of his decisions, and his two linesmen resembled a firing squad, standing at the end of the tunnel as they waited for Burke to re-emerge for the closing 35 minutes.

The multiple All-Star had been caught needlessly slapping down on Brian Duignan as the half-time whistle sounded and Burke’s red card means he will now miss Galway’s crunch outing against Wexford at Pearse Stadium on Saturday week.

Ownes also dismissed team coach Aidan Harte while manager Micheál Donoghue received a yellow card, subsequently upgraded to red for pitch incursions. Reduced to 14-men, were Galway suddenly in a spot of bother?

Not a bit of it. Offaly failed utterly to exploit their numerical advantage and only managed a paltry five points in the second half, two of which came from substitute Adam Screeney frees. In fact, the last 15 minutes proved a hard watch as the sting had long gone out of the exchanges.

Pictured: Galway's Padraic Mannion, who has John Flemingin support, breaking out of defence against Offaly's Charlie Mitchell during Saturday evening's Leinster Senior Hurling Championship clash in Tullamore. Photos: Joe O'Shaughnessy.