Cunningham admits wasted goal opportunities cost Tribesmen

Galway manager Anthony Cunningham admitted the three goal opportunities squandered by his attack were crucial factors in their second league defeat of the season.

The visitors prized open the Kilkenny defence numerous times during the first half, but failed to convert.

Corner-forward Davy Glennon fluffed two chances while Kilkenny keeper Eoin Murphy was equal to Conor Cooney’s 21-yard free.

“Against a top-class team like Kilkenny the goals were the difference at the finish,” noted Cunningham. “We had goal chances early on and Kilkenny took theirs really well. That’s something we have to sharpen up on.

“We have it within us, there’s no doubt. We have been here and had a lot tougher matches with Kilkenny down through the years and you’ll always have that here. We were happy with our battle in the last 20 minutes but there was a while when we were off it. It’s all about performances and we saw certain things that went well. But we need to do that for 70 minutes. There are parts we need to tidy up on as well.”

Galway welcome fellow strugglers Tipperary to Pearse Stadium next weekend and Cunningham acknowledges that victory is now a must for his men.

“We have to win that’s the long and short of it. We have two matches left and we have to get something out of them.”

Kilkenny manager Brian Cody praised the attitude of his players, in particular the handful of newcomers who have seen plenty of game time this spring, but wasn’t overly impressed with the team’s lethargic second-half display.

“I would have preferred to have scored more in the second half, we created a lot more than we took and when you don’t put them away it’s very easy for the other team to stay in touch. The attitude continues to be top class and there’s a realisation that places are up for grabs.

“I said at the start of the league we would try and look at players to build as strong a panel as we possibly can.”

As for the notion that Kilkenny are cruising towards the knockout stages without over-exerting themselves? “We picked up two points which was good but I wouldn’t say we are cruising along, we are doing okay. We’ve had some good displays and we have Dublin on Saturday night so the games are coming thick and fast. I’d be quite happy to win the league but you also want to look at as many players as possible and stay competitive.

“At the end of the league the aim is to have a really strong panel that we can take on whatever happens in the championship.”