Cork continue dismal run with home defeat

Cork 1-21 Galway 1-24

2004 NHL Division One champions Galway ended this season's campaign with the scalping of last year's All-Ireland champions Cork.

The sharp-shooting of Eugene Cloonan and goalscorer Richie Murray saw the Tribesmen win out.

The Rebels, back on their home patch, slumped to their third consecutive defeat of the league's second phase - even though Joe Deane claimed a personal haul of 1-10 (6 frees).

Still, it was Galway grinning at the finish. They looked to have laid the foundation for the win with Murray's 22nd-minute goal but Cork muscled back into a 1-12 to 1-11 lead at the break.

Conor Hayes' visitors still had one eye on next weekend's league final - a six-point win with Wexford defeating Clare would see them into successive deciders - but it was not to be.

Murray's goal was in reply to Deane's neat 13th-minute net-buster from a long John Gardiner free.

A rally of Galway points on the restart - eight in all - from midfielder David Collins and Tony Òg Regan, forwards Alan Kerins, Damien and Kevin Hayes and top scorer Cloonan pushed the visitors into the ascendancy.

Cork mustered a late fightback as Deane completed his tally from placed balls but the more important task of a Munster Championship first round meeting with 2004 winners Waterford lies ahead for John Allen's men on Sunday, May 22.

Scorers:

Cork: J Deane 1-10 (6f), J Gardiner, B O'Connor, N McCarthy, N Ronan 0-02 each, J O'Connor, K Murphy, E Collins 0-01 each.

Galway: E Cloonan 0-07 (6f), R Murray 1-04, T Og Regan, Damien Hayes, A Kerins 0-03 each, D Collins, K Hayes 0-02 each.