Cork leak goals but managers happy with workout

Galway 4-16 Cork 1-22

It was a good workout with plenty of scores and no serious injuries. On a beautiful afternoon, splendid sod, points were always going to be scored, and an abundance of them, but four goals conceded? Not to worry, said Cork manager John Allen.

“We were down 10 of our panel; take Sean Óg Ó hAilpín, Ronan Curran, Pat Mulcahy, Brian Murphy out of any defence, and you’ll be under pressure. Overall I was very pleased, we scored 1-22; obviously it’s a concern when you leak goals, but two weeks before the Munster final, it was a good workout.”

Encouraging for Allen was the scoring return from Neil Ronan, along with the promise in the performances of subs Kieran Murphy of Erin’s Own and youngster Shane O’Neill. Of even more significance, was the sharp form of returning corner-back Wayne Sherlock..

Galway manager Conor Hayes was also in good form, looking forward to some selection headaches of his own, also of the positive kind. He was pleased especially with a couple of youngsters, wing-back Ger Mahon, full-back on last year’s All-Ireland-winning minor side, and flying forward Niall Healy. “They did very well, Niall is very sharp, a speedy forward. We have a lot of options, plenty of experience out there, with youth on our side this year as well, I don’t have any fears in that respect.

“We could do with a little more sharpness on the field, but fitness-wise we’re in good shape.”

Scorers: Galway: G. Farragher 1-9 (0-6 frees, 0-2 65’s, 0-1 sideline); K. Hayes 1-2; D. Forde 1-0; N. Healy 1-0; D. Hayes, D. Tierney, T. Óg Regan, A. Kerins, A. Smith, 0-1 each. Cork: N. Ronan 1-4; J. Deane 0-5 (0-2 frees); B. O’Connor 0-4 (0-1 free); T. Kenny 0-2; J. O’Callaghan 0-2; P. Kelly, B. Corcoran, K. Murphy, B. Barry, N. McCarthy, 0-1 each.

GALWAY: L. Donoghue; D. Joyce, S. Kavanagh, C. Coen; G. Maher, D. Hardiman, O. Canning; D. Collins, T. Óg Regan; G. Farragher, D. Forde, D. Tierney; D. Hayes, K. Hayes, D. O’Donoghue. Subs: R. Murray (Forde inj. 35); A. Kerins (O’Donoghue 35); F. Healy (Collins 43); F. Moore (Coen 63); N. Healy (Farragher 63); D. Hayes (Mahon 65); J. Lee (Hardiman 66); A. Calnan (K. Hayes 66); T. Tierney (Tierney 66); A. Smith (D. Hayes 66).

CORK: D. Óg Cusack; W. Sherlock, D. O’Sullivan, C. O’Connor; P. Kelly, J. Gardiner, R. McGregor; T. Kenny, J. O’Connor; J. O’Callaghan, N. McCarthy, B. O’Connor; N. Ronan, B. Corcoran, J. Deane. Subs: K. Murphy (Deane 35); S. O’Neill (McGregor inj. 41); B. Barry (McCarthy inj. 41).

Referee: M. Myers (Whitechurch).