Déise depth shines through

A MAGNIFICENT contest in summer-like conditions in Walsh Park in this crucial final-round Allianz Hurling League yesterday, and a nerve-wracking final few minutes as Galway went in search of the win that would guarantee a place in the final.

It all came down to a free from 65 metres on the right that the gifted Joe Canning would point in his sleep. A point would tie the game but with news coming from Cork that Dublin were ahead and likely to end the campaign on a total of 10 points, a draw was of no use to the Tribesmen, who would then have finished on nine.

Joe was sent back in around the square, wing-back David Burke posted a dangerous centre, but the Waterford defence (what a performance from Brick Walsh!) stood firm, won possession, and with it, won the game.

Deservedly so, let it be said, because though this was a vastly improved performance from Galway’s last league outing, a shellacking in Galway by Tipperary, they were still forced to play second fiddle for most of this game and in most positions to a hungrier and far more determined home side.

“We haven’t been beaten in Waterford since March 2009,” said Waterford manager Davy Fitzgerald; “We didn’t want that record to go today so we put pressure on ourselves to win. We knew they would be all guns blazing but we stuck with them. The one thing I’ll say about these lads is they’ll be honest and work hard. I’m very excited about the lads who are coming through.”

Young Jerome Maher was a last-minute replacement for hamstrung All Star Noel Connors, and did very well at corner-back; the Mahony brothers Phillip (20) and Pauric (19) were both outstanding, as was another newcomer Gavin Crotty at wing-forward, while substitutes David O’Sullivan and Eamon Murphy injected pace and urgency to the attack.

Consider then the artillery still to return for Waterford — the aforementioned Connors, honeymooning John Mullane, prolific marksman Eoin Kelly, new discovery Richie Foley, the powerful Declan Prendergast, team captain Stephen Molumphy — and you can see, Waterford now have as much depth as any county in the country.

They began very well with three points from emergency free-taker Pauric Mahony, plus one from corner-back Brian O’Sullivan, they battled to a four-point lead after nine minutes, Galway yet to register.

In fact, and even with the returning Joe Canning, Damien Hayes and Kevin Hynes in the attack, it took Galway until the 13th minute before they finally got on the board, a pointed free from Joe, and though Galway then put their own stamp on the game, tying it up by the half-hour mark (the powerful Iarla Tannian with two fine strikes, Damien Hayes also getting off the mark), it was Waterford deservedly in front at the break, 0-8 to 0-7.

The sides were tied again in the 39th minute, nine points apiece, when Waterford hit probably their best patch of the game. It started with a goal by Shane Walsh, who was giving Shane Kavanagh — another returning Galway star — a torrid time, and continued with three unanswered points (Walsh scored one and created another), to put Waterford six points in front, the large crowd in great voice.

Unlike what had happened in Pearse Stadium against Tipperary two weeks ago, however, Galway did mount a fightback. It started with a Damien Hayes point, continued with a blistering individual goal by Joe Canning, who grabbed a high centre and beat two men to fire a netbuster past Clinton Hennessy. Game on again, and when Galway, through Canning again, tied it in the first minute of injury-time, it was still anybody’s game.

Young Pauric Mahony had the final say, a nerveless free from wide right — Galway gone. Said Galway manager John McIntyre: “We have a mountain of work to do ahead of the championship, and our last two outings highlight that.”

Scorers for Waterford: Pauric Mahony 0-9 (0-8f); S Walsh 1-4; K Moran, S O’Sullivan, B O’Sullivan, S Casey, 0-1 each.

Scorers for Galway: J Canning 1-6 (0-4 frees); D Hayes 0-3; I Tannian 0-2; B Daly 0-2; J Coen, T Óg Regan (f), N Healy, 0-1 each.

WATERFORD: C Hennessy; J Maher, L Lawlor, D Fives; T Browne, M Walsh, Phillip Mahony; E McGrath, K Moran; G Crotty, S O’Sullivan, Pauric Mahony; B O’Sullivan, S Walsh, S Casey.

Subs: D O’Sullivan for McGrath (52); E Murphy for B O’Sullivan (54); J Nagle for Lawlor (67). Blood subs: W Hutchinson for Lawlor (7/9); S Prendergast for S Walsh (22/29) and for Moran (70/72).

GALWAY: J Grealish; D Joyce (c), S Kavanagh, D Collins; D Burke, T Óg Regan, A Cullinane; B Daly, J Coen; D Hayes, J Canning, K Hynes; E Forde, I Tannian, A Callanan.

Subs: G O’Halloran for Kavanagh (44); C Donnellan for Hynes (46); N Healy for Forde (53); D Barry for Cullinane (63).

Referee: C McAllister (Cork).