McIntyre puts win down to ‘backbone’

A CRACKING match, this NHL Division One game in Nowlan Park yesterday, a fitting occasion for the unveiling of the new stand at the O’Loughlin’s end of the ground, even if the result didn’t please the home contingent in the 7,124 crowd.

Galway shaded matters in an entertaining first half in which centre-forward Cyril Donnellan gave Jackie Tyrell a rare roasting (four fine points from play), and the Tribesmen enjoyed a decent half-time lead, 0-13 to 0-9.

Within five minutes of the changeover, however, that cushion had gone, Kilkenny with first a pointed 65 by wing-back Paddy Hogan, then a fortuitous goal by returning team captain TJ Reid, capitalising on an error by Galway keeper James Skehill.