Galway have too much firepower for battling Offaly to earn first league win

Allianz National Hurling League Division 1 A Round 4

GALWAY 2-23

OFFALY 0-18

GALWAY carried a bit too much firepower for Offaly when they recorded their first win of this year's Allianz Hurling League campaign with an 11 point victory at Grant Heating St Brendan's Park, Birr on Sunday.

A late flourish of 1-2 in injury time put a gloss on the final scoreline but Galway always looked to be a step ahead of the home side and any time they did come under pressure seemed to have the ability to pick off scores and pull clear again.

Offaly had first use of the strong wind but were unable to make that advantage count on the scoreboard. The sides were level four times in the opening 23 minutes but a run of five points without reply in a seven minute spell at that stage put Galway well in control and they led by 0-9 too 0-6 at half time.

Offaly needed to try and hang on to Galway in the second half but conceded a goal and a point in the opening 90 seconds and were always chasing the game from there. It could have turned very ugly for Offaly from there but to their credit they kept battling away and got the gap down to five points on a couple of occasions. A goal at a stage like that could really have ignited them and got the big crowd behind them but the opportunities they did get they failed to convert and Galway's strong finish to give them an 11 point win was probably a bit harsh on Offaly.

Galway were given a lot of leeway in the first half as Offaly seemed to stand off them a bit too much and they were able to work the ball out of the defence a bit too easily. There always seemed to be a man running off the shoulder to take a pass and Offaly struggled to deal with that. Galway hit eight wides in that first half so could have been even further ahead at the break.

Offaly played a lot of long balls into their full forward line in the first half but it yielded little in terms of results as they were unable to hold on to it and it came back out too quickly. They got their best results when they ran straight at Galway and they created a number of openings in that first half by doing that. Unfortuately, as in the Waterford game a couple of weeks previously, they failed to take the goal opportunites that they did create.

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They got a bit more of a return from the long ball in the second half with Brian Duignan making some good catches and picking off good points but again goal opportunities were spurned. Overall Offaly did better in the second half against the wind, hitting double of what they scored with the wind in the first half.

Liam Hoare made one terrific save from Colm Molloy on the stroke of half time but his long puck outs with the wind in the first half should have yielded more reward but the Galway defence dealt well with them. It was good to see Killian Sampson back in the Offaly jersey and he had some good moments and will have benefitted from 70 minutes here. Ben Conneely, Donal Shirley and Jack Clancy also did well in defence. Cathal King did a lot of good work before going off injured, while in attack Brian Duignan and Adam Screeney made most impact.

Cillian Trayers, Padraic Mannion and T.J. Brennan made strong impressions in the Galway defence, Cian Daniels did well in the middle of the field, while in attack Cathal Mannion, Jason Rabbitte, Colm Molloy and Aaron Niland all looked dangerous.

Offaly got off to a flying start when Ter Guinan won the ball from the throw in and raced forward to fire over with just seven seconds on the clock. Galway had a couple of early wides before Aaron Niland levelled after four minutes but Offaly restored their lead when Killian Sampson's ball found Brian Duignan and he pointed. Sampson was the provider again a minute later when picking out Aaron Screeney and he pointed from 50m.

Colm Molloy replied with a good point for Galway and and they were level after 13 minutes when Tom Monaghan picked out Colm Molloy and he pointed. Offaly hit a number of wides before Galway hit the front for the first time after 18 minutes with a point from Aaron Niland, although he appeared to have picked the ball straight off the ground.

Offaly levelled when Adam Screeney pointed a free and Donal Shirley then burst forward and drilled a shot just over the crossbar. They then had a great chance of a goal when Ter Guinan ran through but he was hooked by Padraicc Mannion and Galway managed to scramble the ball to safety.

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A brace of quick points from Jason Rabbitte and Tom Monaghan had Galway back in front before Offaly had another goal chance but Daniel Bourke's effort was half blocked out for a '65' which Adam Screeney sent wide. Galway made Offaly pay for those misses as Cathal Mannion hit two in a row, one a free, and Cillian Trayers came forward in loads of space to slot over another point. Adam Screeney pulled one point back from a free before half time but Galway held a 0-9 to 0-6 advantage at that stage.

Cathal Mannion pointed a free inside the first minute of the second half and a minute later was on the end of a move involving Daithi Burke and Cian Daniels and when he found himself in space he crashed a shot to the roof of the net.

Offaly now had a mountain to climb but they responded with points from Luke Watkins and an Adam Screeney free. They looked on for another score but lost the ball in attack, when Adam Screeney seemed to have been fouled, and Galway broke upfield for Cathal Mannion to point. Killian Sampson made a good block as Aaron Niland went for goal before goalkeeper Stephen O'Halloran pointed from well out the field with Aaron Niland adding another to stretch the lead to eight points 12 minutes into the half.

Offaly didn't lie down and two Adam Screeney frees sandwiched a Brian Duignan point and they were back within five halfway through the second half. Galway responded with four on the trot from Jason Rabbitte (2), Tom Monaghan and Cathal Mannion while at the other end Brian Duignan made a great catch but was put under pressure as he bore down on goal and his shot went into the sidenetting.

Jack Clancy and Colm Molloy exchanged points before Brian Duignan and Oisin Kelly picked off Offaly points. Two Cathal Mannion frees kept Galway in front as Jack Clancy, Colin Spain (with an effort that flew just over the crossbar) and Brian Duignan brought Offaly back within six points with three minutes left.

Cathal Mannion (free) and Adam Screeney exchanged points to leave six in it going into injury time but Galway finished with a flourish. Cathal Mannion pointed from play and then Conor Whelan caught a cross from Tom Monaghan and turned and crashed a shot into the roof of the ne and he still had time to float over a point from the right sideline to leave Galway 11 points clear at the final whistle.

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MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

GALWAY: Stephen O'Halloran; Joshua Ryan, Daithi Burke, Ronan Glennon; Padraic Mannion, Cillian Travers, T.J. Brennan; Gavin Lee, Cian Daniels, Tom Monaghan, Cathal Mannion, Tiernan Killeen; Colm Molloy, Jason Rabbitte, Aaron Niland. Subs. Cianan Fahy (for Gavin Lee, 24 mins), Conor Whelan (for Aaron Niland, 50 mins), Sean Murphy (for Joshua Ryan, 53 mins) Declan McLoughlin (for Daithi Burke, 65 mins).

OFFALY: Liam Hoare; Patrick Taaffe, Ben Conneely, Brecon Kavanagh; Donal Shirley, Killian Sampson, Jack Clancy; Cathal King, Ter Guinan; Oisin Kelly, Conor Doyle, Daniel Bourke; Eoghan Cahill, Brian Duignan, Adam Screeney. Subs. David Nally (for Eoghan Cahill, 17 mins), Luke Watkins (for Conor Doyle, half time), Colin Spain (for Cathal King, 56 mins), Luke Nolan (for Ter Guinan, 63 mins), Ciaran Cleary (for Oisin Kelly, 67 mins).

REFEREE: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)

MAN OF THE MATCH

Galway's Cathal Mannion gets the nod here. He started slowly but once he got into the game he had a major impact on it and he finished with a tally of 1-9, 1-4 of that from play. He had the ability to find space for himself and also get involved in a lot of Galway's attacking moves and his class was evident throughout. His goal at the start of the second half was just the tonic Galway needed and they never looked back from there.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Galway's five points without reply in a seven minute spell before half time put them firmly in the driving seat. Having played with the wind in the first half Offaly needed to have some kind of a lead at half time but having been level four times in the first 23 minutes, those five points helped Galway to lead by three at half time and when they added 1-1 in the first minute and a half of the second half, Offaly were left with a mountain to climb.

REFEREE WATCH

Experienced All-Ireland final referee Johnny Murphy from Limerick took charge of this contest. He wasn't a factor in the game and handled it well. He pulled both sides for fouls off the ball and while he missed a couple of blatant frees, overall he did a decent job.

WHAT’S NEXT

Both teams are in action again next Sunday. Offaly are at home to Limerick in Glenisk O'Connor Park at 2pm while at the same time Galway play host to Waterford in Pearse Stadium.

VENUE WATCH

Grant Heating St Brendan's Park in Birr had to undergo an early morning inspection before being passed fit to host the game. Considering the game was in doubt, the pitch held up remarkably well. It was soft in places but there was a bit of give in it. The heavens opened about half an hour after the final whistle but fortunately the ground had been cleared at that stage.

There was a great crowd in for the game with the stand full almost a half an hour before throw in. The Birr Club had loads on stewards on duty to cater for the large crowd and obviously took great pride in hosting the game.

STATISTICS

Wides; Galway 12 (8 in first half) Offaly 8 (6 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Galway 1 (Joshua Ryan) Offaly 1 (Adam Screeney)

Black Cards: None

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Galway; Cathal Mannion (1-9, 0-5 frees), Conor Whelan (1-1), Aaron Niland, Colm Molloy, Jason Rabbitte (0-3 each), Tom Monaghan (0-2), Cillian Trayers, Stephen O'Halloran (0-1 each).

Offaly; Adam Screeney (0-7, 0-5 frees), Brian Duignan (0-4), Jack Clancy (0-2), Ter Guinan, Donal Shirley, Luke Watkins, Oisin Kelly, Colin Spain (0-1 each).

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