Predictable win for in-form Galway as Offaly dig deep to plug the damage
OFFALY won't be jumping through any hoops after an expected defeat by Galway in round 2 of the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship at Pearse Stadium, Salthill on Sunday last but manager Johnny Kelly will still have a few positives to highlight as they recharge their batteries this week.
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship round 2
Galway 2-26
Offaly 1-18
Offaly were well beaten and were never in with a remote chance of an upset but they kept going right to the final whistle, working very hard to limit the damage and ensure the floodgates did not fully open.
As defeats go, this could have been a whole lot worse. Galway could easily have surpassed thirty points and five goals and if they had, Johnny Kelly would have been dealing with a deflated group of players ahead of the big tests ahead in the coming weeks – Offaly now have a week off before they have a run of three big games in a row with home ones against Kilkenny and Wexford before the group stages conclude with Kildare in Newbridge.
Offaly's goose was cooked when they went in three points behind at half time after playing with the wind. It was only in the closing quarter that Galway could relax fully and the manner in which Offaly knuckled down and kept going was very pleasing. Players who had been out of it got going with Brian Duignan and Charlie Mitchell playing their best hurling in the closing quarter and Ciaran Burke coming into his own in a midfield role in the second half, mainly in a defensive capacity while others ran themselves into the ground.
It would have been nice to keep the losing margin down to single digits for the first time since 2010 and Offaly were not that far away from that. Eleven points was the deficit in the wind up and in reality, this was as close as Offaly could have been or deserved to be. Heroics by goalkeeper Liam Hoare prevented Galway getting a goal until the 63rd minute while Galway had some really sloppy, unforced wides in the second half.
With a point on the board from their first game against Dublin, Offaly are still in a decent position as they turn their attention to Kilkenny and the really big games against Wexford and Kildare.
Hurling is a ruthless game at the top level and Offaly hung in gamely in the first half, getting their intensity levels and application near right in the second quarter but they were still staring a heavy defeat in the face when they trailed by 0-13 to 0-10 at the break.
Offaly played with a stiff wind in the first half and had to be a few points to the good at half time to have a chance of a first championship win over Galway since the 1994 All-Ireland semi-final.
Instead, they found themselves three points in arrears and with little chance of collecting a second point. They were, however, relieved to be only three behind at the break as Liam Hoare made three great first half saves, two from Rory Burke and one from Jason Rabbitte. Burke's first attempt wasn't really on and he should have tapped over but the next two were clear chances and the Carrig-Riverstown kept Offaly alive.
On the downside, having converted his first long distance free, Hoare was wide with two later ones that were within his range and Offaly needed every score in the first half. They had the same wides as Galway, eight each, but this was way more costly for Offaly, who were chasing the game from the start.
They were slow to settle and with Conor Whelan in flying form in the Galway attack, the home side were 0-6 to 0-1 ahead after 12 minutes. Offaly improved after this and were 0-9 to 0-6 behind after 23 minutes – Conor Doyle recovered very well from a nervous start, scoring two points, and Offaly competed very well in the second quarter.
Jack Clancy got forward for an easy point and Adam Screeney converted a '65' as Offaly hung on grimly to trail by three at half time.
Offaly's defence continued to live a charmed life early in the second half with Ciaran Burke getting across to deny Jason Rabbitte a goal. Conor Whelan hit the post with a great chance a minute later and Galway could very easily have had five goals at this stage.
They did get the five of the opening six points to push their lead out to 0-18 to 0-11 after 43 minutes. It was 0-20 to 0-13 after 51 minutes as Galway's attack began to hit wides, recording six in one ten minute spell. As often happens in a game where one side has a handful of goal chances, their opponents struck with their first opportunity. Charlie Mitchell was outstanding in his return against Dublin but was a peripheral figure here until the closing quarter and he showed his class as he set up sub Oisin Kelly for a 54th minute goal.
Kelly was only on the field a few seconds and suddenly the gap was a mere four points. None of the Offaly support, however, were getting excited and as expected, Galway found another gear. Cathal Mannion settled them with a free and they put the issue beyond doubt with a super 63rd minute goal from sub Conor Cooney – Cooney flicked the ball over Ben Conneely, ran at the Offaly goals and gave Hoare no chance from ten metres.
Galway's lead was 1-22 to 1-14 and the only question was would Offaly keep the margin to under ten points, They just about failed to as Rory Burke got their second goal with five minutes left, Jason Rabbitte the provider. Offaly trailed by nine, 2-23 to 1-17 with time almost up but Galway struck for three in a row with Adam Screeney getting the final point of the afternoon deep in injury time.
MATCH ANALYSIS
MAN OF THE MATCH
Conor Whelan (Galway): Conor Whelan laid the foundations for Galway's with an excellent first half. He tormented the Offaly defence, scoring four points and added an excellent second half point. Offaly eventually took remedial action at half time, moving Ben Conneely off him into the corner and bringing Ruari Kelly on for Sam Bourke. Kelly, with his new blonde hair colour hidden by his red helmet, picked up Whelan in the second half, trying to stay tight on him and using his pace while Conneely did well in the second half but the damage was done in the first half in terms of winning the match.
Offaly had a mixture of decent and average displays. They worked hard but a few players never really got going and the attack were swimming against the tide for most of it. Ross Ravenhill put in another very hard working Offaly display, getting in big hits on the half back line and draining the tank – he was replaced near the end with his energy spent but was probably Offaly's best player while Liam Hoare made some super saves.
Given a new midfield role, Ciaran Burke took a while to get going but improved as the game wore on, digging deep to stop Galway pulling away in the second half. Shane Rigney and Adam Screeney had their moments in attack and Conor Doyle had a good few minutes coming up near half time.
THE SCORERS
Galway: Aaron Niland 0-9 (7f), Conor Whelan 0-5, Rory Burke 1-2, Cathal Mannion 0-4 (3f), Conor Cooney 1-0, Jason Rabbitte 0-2, Padraic Mannion, Daithi Burke, Gavin Lee, Darragh Neary 0-1 each.
Offaly: Adam Screeney 0-8 (5f and 1 '65'), Oisin Kelly 1-0, Shane Rigney and Conor Doyle 0-2 each, Liam Hoare (f), Ross Ravenhill, Jack Clancy, Dan Bourke, Charlie Mitchell, Brian Duignan 0-1 each.
THE TEAMS
OFFALY: Liam Hoare (Carrig-Riverstown); Patrick Taaffe (Belmont), Ben Conneely (St Rynagh's), Sam Bourke (Durrow); Ross Ravenhill (Durrow), Killian Sampson (Shinrone), Ter Guinan (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Ciaran Burke (Durrow), Jack Clancy (Belmont); Shane Rigney (St Rynagh's), Dan Bourke (Durrow), Conor Doyle (Clara); Charlie Mitchell (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Brian Duignan (Durrow), Adam Screeney (Kilcormac-Killoughey). Subs – Ruari Kelly (Lusmagh) for Sam Bourke (HT), Ben Miller (Birr) for Clancy (45m), Oisin Kelly (Belmont) for Dan Bourke (53m), Eoghan Cahill (Birr) for Doyle (66m), Ciaran Cleary (Shinrone) for Ravenhill (69m),
GALWAY: Darach Fahy; Ronan Glennon, Cillian Trayers, Darren Morrissey; Padraic Mannion, Daithi Burke, Gavin Lee; Cian Daniels, Cathal Mannion; Rory Burke, Darragh Neary, John Fleming; Jason Rabbitte, Conor Whelan, Aaron Niland. Subs – Conor Cooney for Niland (53m), Tom Monaghan for Neary (58m), Colm Molloy for Fleming (64m), Kieran Hanrahan for Trayers (67m), Shane Morgan for Daithi Burke (67m),
Referee – Thomas Gleeson, Dublin.
REFEREE WATCH
Thomas Gleeson had a good game, letting it flow – both teams complained at some decisions but there were no big talking points. He was busy in the second half as there were a few hefty hits but he showed cards and kept control well.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
There was no big moment in terms of deciding the match and the outcome looked inevitable almost the whole way. Liam Hoare's saves, however, did keep Offaly somewhat in contention at half time and had Galway got first half goals, they could have won by a lot more.
VENUE WATCH
Games in Pearse Stadium, Salthill are always an enjoyable experience, irrespective of the traffic delays that can occur sometimes. It is a fine stadium and Galway are always welcome hosts – it is only right that their contribution to Leinster hurling is acknowledged by them being allowed to have games on their own turf. It's location may be problematic in terms of traffic congestion but they have excellent facilities – redeveloped in the early 2000s, it was one of the grounds examined by Offaly GAA when they were doing up O'Connor Park a few years later, and they adapted many elements of the Galway template, including media and wheelchair facilities.
There was a nice crowd here, a good atmosphere on a good day and the pitch was in excellent shape.
WHAT'S NEXT
Offaly now have a week off before they host Kilkenny in Tullamore on Sunday, May 10.
STATISTICS
Wides: Offaly – 11 (8 in first half); Galway - 16 (8 in first half).
Yellow cards: Offaly – 2 (Patrick Taaffe and Ben Miller); Galway – 5 (Gavin Lee, Daith Burke, Jason Rabbitte, Conor Whelan, Aaron Niland).
Black cards: 0
Red cards: 0