Waterford corner-back Noel Connors loses his hurley under pressure from Galway's Cyril Donnellan. | Photo: Sean Byrne-Deise Sport
Galway 4-15; Waterford 1-15
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After scoring four goals against Dublin in the first round of the National League, Waterford became the victims of a similar salvo when they travelled to Galway last Sunday.
On an afternoon that Davy Fitzgerald would rather forget, Waterford conceded too much space to the dangerous Galway forwards and paid a rather heavy price. The fullback line never got to grips with the Galway full-forward line in which Iarla Tannian and Joe Gantley troubled the visiting defenders throughout.
Waterford got off to the worst possible start when, from their very first attack Galway managed to raise a green flag. Gantley claimed the ball ahead of Liam Lawlor and dispatched a pass to Niall Healy who beat Adrian Power, who got his stick to the ball, from close range.
The Waterford forwards struggled to get into the game and bar a couple of Maurice Shanahan frees they failed to score inside the opening 19 minutes.
By then, Galway were almost out of sight having added on points from play through Aengus Callanan, Gantley and midfielder Niall Cahalan.
In the 15th minute the Waterford defence failed to deal with a long ball which Iarla Tannian picked up before slamming the sliotar to the back of the Power’s net for Galway’s second goal.
It was only then that Waterford decided to play some hurling. Shanahan converted another free awarded after a foul on Thomas Connors. Then Connors ran through and set up Shane Walsh for a goal chance. The Fouremilewater man turned on to his right and fired a shot at goal which flew over the Galway crossbar.
This was followed by a neat long-range point from Jamie Nagle. Waterford were very much on top at this stage with Galway having gone into their shell. A long delivery into the Galway square bounced off Gary Hurney’s head and into the path of Shane Walsh who collected smartly and finished into the bottom left corner.
A fine Richie Foley point from way out the field brought Waterford back on level terms and they finished the half strongly and two points from Maurice Shanahan – one a great individual effort, leaving his side two points in front at the break with Galway having lost their way somewhat.
See The Munster Express newspaper for full story.
