Galway finish with a flurry

Galway2-17 Waterford 2-13

A four-point defeat by Galway in the Allianz NHL now means the team that captured the headlines last season when winning the Munster title is now reeling on the ropes in Division 1 “A.”

Not even the presence of Paul Flynn could save the Justin McCarthy managed side from another defeat. And to compound Waterford’s problems, outstanding centre-forward Ken McGrath is likely to miss the remainder of the competition after being sent off with Galway centre-back Diarmuid Cloonan, following an altercation between the two just before the interval.

Waterford did not give in easily and made Galway work hard before a stunning injury-time goal from full-forward Ollie Fahy, followed by a clinching point from Cathal Moore, wrapped up the points.

Flynn, making his first competitive start of the season, gave Waterford the lead with a point from a free within 40 seconds. But Galway, with Damien Joyce excelling at right corner-back and doing a fantastic job curtailing Flynn, looked the more promising side. Joyce overshadowed his illustrious opponent and Flynn departed the scene in the second half.

They were level at two points apiece after the opening quarter when calamity befell Waterford. Team captain Tony Browne was hit full-force in the face by the ball and fell to the ground. He was left with blood spurting from the wound and when the ball was channelled through to Ollie Fahy he made no mistake from close range. But brave Waterford managed to cling on, thanks to two marvellous long-range points from play, scored by centre-forward Ken McGrath.

And Waterford’s recovery was complete in the 27th-minute when, latching on to a low cross from wing-forward Dan Shanahan, full-forward Andy Moloney billowed the Galway net from just outside the square.

But then came McGrath’s dismissal and Waterford were in trouble. However, they held on to trail by just 1-8 to 1-6 at half-time. It looked curtains for Waterford immediately after the resumption when Galway extended their lead with lightning-fast points by impressive Alan Kerins, poacher supreme Fahy and Cathal Moore.

However, Waterford, who had earlier suffered a terrible setback when Flynn’s penalty conversion attempt rebounded off the crossbar, were right back in the hunt when Moloney pounced for his second goal of the game when he kicked home in the 43rd minute.

Now only a point separated them and with Galway losing their shape, Waterford were in with every chance of pulling it out of the fire when their most prolific scorer Dave Bennett pointed twice in rapid succession to level the game at 2-13 to 1-16 coming up to the end of normal time.

Then came Galway’s clinical finish in injury-time and Waterford’s agony continues.

Scorers, Galway: O Fahy 2-1, R Gantley 0-5 (0-4 frees, 0-1 65), C Moore 0-4, A Kerins 0-4, K Broderick 0-2, J Conroy 0-1.

Waterford: A Moloney 2-1, D Bennett 0-5 (0-3 frees, 0-1 65), P Flynn 0-2 (frees), D Shanahan 0-2, K McGrath 0-2, E McGrath 0-1.

GALWAY: L Donoghue, D Joyce, L Hodgins, O Canning, T O’Regan, D Cloonan, S Kavanagh, A Coen, J Conroy, R Gantley, C Moore, D Tierney, A Kerins, O Fahy, K Broderick. Subs. R Murray for Coen, E Lynch for Conroy, F Healy for Tierney, M Kerins for Healy (inj).

WATERFORD: S Brenner, B Greene, T Feeney, B Flannery, E Murphy, F Hartley, J Murray, T Browne, M Walsh, D Shanahan, K McGrath, D Bennett, E McGrath, A Moloney, P Flynn. Subs. B Phelan for Walsh, P O’Brien for Flynn.

Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath).