Late Galway collapse at odds with flying start to semi-final

 Galway 0-19

YOU’D nearly need the help of a psychologist to break down the erratic performance of Galway hurlers which flirted between the extremes of good and bad in Sunday’s National League semi-final at Nowlan Park.

In summary, the Tribesmen threw away a golden opportunity of reaching the league decider after a final quarter implosion against 14-man Waterford who clearly possessed greater levels of motivation down the home stretch.

In front of a disappointing attendance of over 13,200 for a league semi-final double bill, Galway failed to close the deal following an impressive start which ought to have laid the foundation for what would have been a fact-finding league final collision against Limerick.

Instead, they will have to pick up the pieces from an avoidable defeat – their second in a fortnight against Waterford – and the sight of star man Joe Canning being stretchered off the field late on with a leg injury.

By that juncture, the match had completely turned on its head. Galway had flown out of the blocks and within four minutes had already five points on board – a statistic which lays bare their shocking wastage from the 48th minute on and just before Michael Kearney’s dismissal on a second yellow card.

For much of the contest, it was difficult to countenance anything other than a Galway win. At different stages of the opening-half, they led by five points against the wind and with Waterford struggling for fluency and Stephen Bennett’s free-taking showing signs of stain for the first time in the league, the result appeared inevitable.

Furthermore, it took two fine reflex saves from Stephen O’Keefe from the lively Kevin Hussey and Canning to keep Waterford hanging on as Galway continued to set the tone and, in the process, make a positive statement about their league ambitions.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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