GAA: Morgan happy as Cork victorious over Galway
Both managers took a number of positives from the game, but clearly Cork's Billy Morgan was the happier as his charges again showed the greater appetite.
"I was extremely pleased with the honest endeavour shown by the lads. To travel this far for a challenge and play as we did is very encouraging and clearly the players are eager to do well."
Cork fielded most of their first choice players against a Galway team missing a number of key players due to club commitments, and the difference in class was very evident.
Defensively Cork were excellent with Derek Kavanagh, at full-back for the second game in a row, never putting a foot wrong, while Graham Canty lorded it at centre back.
Morgan wouldn't be drawn on whether Kavanagh would be kept at full-back except to say the Nemo man is no stranger to the position.
"Derek played in an All-Ireland colleges semi-final with Críost Rí there. In his first year playing senior with Nemo we went to the county final against UCC and he played there and acquitted himself well. He certainly doesn't look out of position."
The sides were evenly matched in the opening half and they were level six times as they swapped points.
Cork had the better of the exchanges with Micheál Ó Croinín and Alan Cronin is sparkling form, but they kicked eight wides to four for Galway.
Galway were dependent on Derek Savage for scores, and while he was their best forward, Kevin Brady and Mathew Clancy made an impression.
After being level 0-6 apiece at half time, Savage gave the home side the lead for the first time early on the change-over and only a superb save by Kevin O'Dwyer denied the Galway man a goal a minute later, before Cork's finally stamped their authority.
James O'Connell, who did well when introduced, as did Ciaran O'Sullivan, tied the game for the seventh time with an excellent point, and it was plain sailing after that for Cork.
Micheál Ó Croinín showed his class with a cracking goal after a great run and, with Nicholas Murphy winning possession from the air at will in midfield and with Alan Cronin continuing to exercise huge influence up front with his phenomenal work rate, Cork tacked on a litany of points to run out comfortable winners.
Galway manager John O'Mahony said he was delighted with the workout. "It was our first competitive match since our defeat by Donegal in the All-Ireland last year", he said. "We needed a game like this to give us some idea of how much ground we have to make up, and it was a real eye opener for some of the newcomers.
"I knew Cork had played a couple of games and it showed. They looked extremely sharp, and are obviously taking the league very seriously. Overall, I was pleased with the workout. It was more beneficial to us than a night's training or an FBD game."
Scorers Cork: M. Ó Croinin 1-1; A. Cronin 0-3; P. Clifford (0-1 free), C. Corkery (frees), C. O'Sullivan 0-2; J. O'Shea, B. Collins, J. O'Connell, S. Levis 0-1 each. Galway: D. Savage 0-4 (0-1 free); M. Donnellan 0-2 (frees); M. Comer (free), J. Devane, B. Colleran 0-1 each.
CORK: K. O'Dwyer; S. O'Brien, D. Kavanagh, G. Murphy; E. Sexton, G. Canty, N. O'Leary; N. Murphy, D. Hurley; A. Cronin, M. Ó Croinín, M. McCarthy; P. Clifford, B. Collins, J. O'Shea. Players used; A. Lynch, C. Corkery, J. O'Connell, J. O'Donoghue, C. Murphy; Ml. O'Sullivan, S. Levis, N. Geary, A. Quirke, K. O'Connor, C. O'Sullivan.
GALWAY: B. O'Donoghue; K. Fitzgerald, G. Fahy, C. Monaghan; M. Comer, D. Mullaghy, S. De Paor; D. Ward, B. Cullinane; K. Brady, M. Clancy, M.Donnellan; D. Burke, J. Devane, D. Savage. Subs. K. Walsh for Ward; A. O'Donovan for Cullinane.
Referee, M. Curley (Galway).
