Galway boss hails majesty of Meehan

Galway 1-15 Derry 0-15

Both will be pleased with the way they played into the strong wind at the Salthill venue but will be alarmed at the lack of intensity and execution when they had the elements at their backs.

Derry scored 0-11 into the wind but only 0-4 with it in the first-half and McIver had no doubt this was when the damage was done, not least as it took 13 minutes to get a first score via PJ McCloskey.

“Probably the first 15 minutes was the decisive part of that game. We were very nervous, we gave the ball away and we got punished for it,” admitted McIver. “We really came back in the second-half and took the game to Galway. There was a spell there and we were only down a point but we had three chances to equalise and maybe take the lead and we didn’t take them. They went up the field had one chance and kicked the decisive score.”

Galway, with central attackers Michael Meehan sharp and dangerous and 2007 All-Ireland minor winner Michael Martin impressive, produced an encouraging opening half and deservedly led 0-8 to 0-4 at the interval.

Meehan, injury-free for the opening of the league for the first time in four years, looked back to his best and his fisted goal four minutes after the restart put Galway six points to the good.

But they still needed points from their four substitutes — Eoin Concannon, Paul Conroy, Gary O’Donnell and Mark Hehir — to seal the win after a spirited comeback by the Ulster men.

Galway boss Alan Mulholland was thrilled with Meehan’s form in particular.

“It was great that Michael played 70 minutes. And when we needed guys at the end, Michael was there for us. We need more of that now.

“It shows you just how much of a loss he was. Galway can’t have one of the best players in the country out for the last couple of years.

“But we are not really satisfied. We played well in the first-half and were very happy at half-time and maybe that was the downfall.

“But after half-time we really let the intensity drop totally. We lost our way and allowed Derry back in and we are very happy to get the two points at the end. It is great that we can win and be a little bit disappointed: it is a good thing.

”But there was some good play in the first-half there, something that we can really build on,” said Mulholland.

McCloskey and Ryan Bell led the Derry comeback in the second quarter, but two pointed frees from Meehan gave the hosts a 0-8 to 0-4 lead at the break.

Meehan’s goal after the restart triggered Derry’s best spell of the game, where they kicked six of the next seven points to leave just one point between the sides with 13 minutes remaining, with Galway goalkeeper Manus Breathnach doing well to deny Enda Lynn while at the other end Eoin McNicholl twice saved from Danny Cummins. McIver’s men just couldn’t kick the equaliser despite strong showings from Ryan Bell, McCloskey and Lynn and Galway closed out the deal with all four subs hitting the target and Meehan also landing a superb ground free from 50 metres.

Scorers for Galway: M Meehan 1-5 (3fs), M Martin 0-3, S Armstrong 0-2, D Cummins, P Conroy, M Hehir, G O’Donnell & E Concannon 0-1 each.

Scorers for Derry: PJ McCloskey and E Bradley (3f) 0-3 each, E Lynn, J Kielt & R Bell (1f) 0-2 each, P Bradley, R Wilkinson & B McGoldrick 0-1 each.

GALWAY: M Breathnach; J Moore, F Hanley, J Duane; C Sweeney, G Sice, G Sweeney; N Coleman, F Ó Curraoin; J O’Brien, M Martin, S Denver; S Armstrong, M Meehan, D Cummins.

Subs: E Concannon for O’Brien 46, P Conroy for Denver 51, G O’Donnell for C Sweeney 52, M Hehir for Martin 65

DERRY: E McNicholl; R Ferris, D McBride, C McWilliams; C McKaigue, M Lynch, S L McGoldrick; P Bradley, PJ McCloskey; E Lynn, R Bell, D Heavron; C Devlin, E Bradley, J Kielt.

Subs: G O’Kane for McWilliams 29, B McGoldrick for P Bradley 45, R Wilkinson for Devlin 55, E McGuckian for Heavron 61, J McCamley for Kielt 70.

Referee: Michael Duffy (Sligo).