Waterford win sees Galway lose hurling crown

Waterford 1-17 Galway 1-16

An under-strength Waterford team ended Galway’s Division 1 title defence at a sundrenched Walsh Park.

Final hopefuls Galway fell to their second successive league defeat as two closing frees from the impressive Pauric Mahony gave the spoils to the Deise.

The returning Joe Canning, who was making his first appearance of the year, helped the visitors reduce the deficit to 0-08 to 0-07 by the break.

Canning found the net in the second half, replying to Shane Walsh’s 39th-minute goal, however the hosts pressed on and were deserving winners.

Barry Daly made his league debut for Galway at midfield, as manager John McIntyre made nine changes to the team that lost heavily to Tipperary.

Canning, who has recovered from a heel injury, and Damien Hayes bolstered the Tribesmen’s attack.

For Waterford, they were missing a number of regulars including captain Stephen Molumphy, a honeymooning John Mullane and free-takers Eoin Kelly and Richie Foley.

Kevin Moran and Eoin McGrath were paired together in the Deise engine room, and the experienced Tony Browne and Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh marshalled the defence.

Ballygunner clubman Pauric Mahony opened the scoring for Waterford after just ten seconds and added two pointed frees to give Davy Fitzgerald’s men a four-point head start.

With Brian O’Sullivan also on target, Waterford were motoring well and Galway were scoreless until Canning pointed a free after being fouled in the 13th minute.

The Portumna ace enjoyed a good tussle with Walsh and showed his accuracy from frees, adding two more after Johnny Coen scored from play.

The Munster champions held onto their lead thanks to efforts from Shane Walsh, Shane O’Sullivan and Mahony, but Galway were improving as the half wore on.

Canning, target man Iarla Tannian and Hayes landed points as the home side’s lead was whittled down to just one at half-time.

Into the second half, Waterford seized the early initiative again. Mahony and Shane O’Sullivan set up Walsh for a run at the Galway defence and he beat the cover and flicked the ball to the net from a tight angle for the game’s first goal.

Walsh, Daly and Shane Casey also struck points in the opening minutes, and Canning, who was found by a deft touch from Hayes, was quickly closed down as he sought out a goal of his own.

The 22-year-old forward did not have long to wait. He caught possession, turned and despite Liam Lawlor and Browne nipping at him, bounded through on goal and rifled a stinging shot past goalkeeper Clinton Hennessy.

The goal came in the 48th minute and gave Galway a much-needed boost, only for Mahony and Moran to reply with points for Waterford.

A brace from Canning, the second a free, reduced the arrears to 1-15 to 1-13 as the hour approached and Hennessy had to react smartly to deny Tannian.

Mahony added a free before Tony Og Regan (free), Daly and Canning got Galway back on terms at 1-16 apiece. However, Mahony had the final say for the Deise, pointing his final free from 30 metres out.

Waterford manager Davy Fitzgerald was not reading too much into the result, with the focus now on his side’s Munster Championship semi-final against Limerick in June.

"We won’t get too excited about the result, it was a good team performance, we worked really hard and our commitment was good. There’s only one game on our minds now and that’s June 12," he said.

"We know we’re going to be in a battle with Limerick. Thurles on June 12 there’s nothing else on my mind.

"When it comes to Championship time that’s when the pressure is on most but that’s when you start enjoying the year to be honest with you.

"We’re going to have to up our game a few notches for the Limerick game, we have to be ready for that one. That’s going to be a serious, serious battle on the day."