Wasteful hurlers lose out in a tight Walsh Park struggle

Galway 0-16

GALWAY hurlers latest league loss to Waterford – their third on the trot – merits qualification which will take some of the sting from Sunday’s avoidable setback at Walsh Park.

The absence of Joe Canning, who was ruled out with a calf strain, and the departure of team captain Padraic Mannion with a rib injury midway through the first-half were blows Galway could have done without at a venue they tend to struggle in.

Throw in 13 wides over the course of a mediocre contest, it leaves Galway with some grounds to excuse a narrow defeat which leaves their league knock-out ambitions hanging by a thread and no margin for error in upcoming home Division 1A clashes against Munster heavyweights, Cork and Tipperary.

New manager Shane O’Neill would hardly relish their interest in the league ending in early March as his squad needs all the road-testing it can get ahead of the championship, based on Sunday’s evidence.

Despite those factors which militated against the Tribesmen, this was a game they should still have got something from, spurning late chances to salvage a draw – substitute Jason Flynn hitting the post and Seán Loftus seeing his long-range effort drifting wide.

Once again, Galway worryingly failed to find the net – the fourth time in five competitive games so far this year – against a Waterford outfit which didn’t look anything out of the ordinary even though preserving their 100% league record.

Their best chance of a green flag came in the 15th minute, but Conor Whelan over-hit his handpass to Conor Cooney. Waterford were slightly more goal threatening and Galway ‘keeper James Skehill had to react smartly to deny Stephen Bennett later in the half.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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