Galway just hold on as late Westmeath fightback falls short

Westmeath’s Shane Allen has words with Shane Walsh of Galway. Pic: James Crombie/Inpho

Galway 3-21 (3-1-19) Westmeath 2-21 (2-3-15) 

This rollercoaster keeps on going. After looking comfortable for most of this game against Westmeath, Galway were clinging on at the end. They just held on.

The Leinster champions were seven down when they came with a late burst. A Robbie Forde two-pointer, a Jack Duncan goal after superb work from Kevin O’Sullivan, Sam McCartan with a bomb from outside the arc. 

With two points between them, Connor Gleeson fired a kickout on top of Damien Comer. From there, substitute Shane McGrath was able to fist over and make it safe.

For the first time since 2003, Pearse Stadium was officially a sellout. A blur of maroon meant the strength of the travelling support only became clear when they hit the front after four minutes, with McCartan’s point producing an almighty roar.

Despite scoring four of the last five scores of the opening half, Westmeath would have been bitterly disappointed at the break. They were down 3-9 to 1-8 with the third Galway goal coming after they tried to kill the clock before half-time.

McCartan tried a shot, dropped it short and instigated a sensational breakaway. Paul Conroy kicked to Shane Walsh, a floater to the back post and Matthew Tierney’s hand rose to tap it in.

All three goals would have been frustrating for Mark McHugh. Fionn McDonagh intercepted a short kickout for Shane Walsh to race in. Cian Hernon scorched his marker John Heslin for a second. 

Their first green flag was the result of a Kevin O’Sullivan shot that was blocked. Tadhg Baker gathered the break, squared to Ronan Wallace who rifled in.

Good fortune could only carry them so far. With the wind at their backs, Galway played with superb variety. They kicked inside to Tierney. 

Paul Conroy boomed over a magnificent two-pointer. Kieran Molloy punched over after he came on as temporary sub due to a clash of heads between Sean Kelly and Senan Baker.

Their best path back into the game was to use the wind. Ronan Wallace set out to down that from the right corner with a superb two-pointer. McHugh had to dig deep into his bench soon after, Ray Connellan limping off after appearing to hurt his ankle while contesting the throw-in.

As they became weaker, Galway grew stronger. Comer came on and created points for Paul Conroy and Robert Finnerty. The margin was eight as the clock ticked towards the final 15 minutes.

But this is a new game in a new era. Everyone has a chance. Everyone knows it. Galway advance to a quarter-final in Croke Park. Westmeath enter what should be a blockbuster round 3.

Scorers for Galway: M. Tierney 1-2; S. Walsh 1-4 (1 f); R. Finnerty 0-3; P. Conroy 0-5 (1 tp); C. Hernon 1-0; C. D’Arcy 0-2; S. McGrath 0-2; S. Kelly, K. Molloy, D. O’Flaherty 0-1 each.

Scorers for Westmeath: R. Wallace 1-2 (tp); S. McCartan 0-4 (1 tp); J. Duncan 1-0; S. Baker 0-2 (1 m); J. Heslin 0-4 frees; T. Baker 0-2; B. Kelly 0-2; R. Forde 0-2 (tp); R. Connellan, B. Cooney, K. O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

GALWAY: C. Gleeson; J. Glynn, C. Hernon, L. Silke; D. McHugh, J. Daly, S. Kelly; P. Conroy, J. Maher; C. D’Arcy, M. Tierney, C. McDaid; R. Finnerty, F. McDonagh, S. Walsh.

Subs: K. Molloy for Kelly (5-10, Temp); S. McGrath for McDonagh (24); D. Comer for McDaid (50); K. Molloy for Daly (61); D. O’Flaherty for Finnerty (62); S. Mulkerrin for Conroy (66).]

WESTMEATH: J. Daly; D. Scahill, C. Drumm, C. Dillon; T. Baker, S. Allen, S. McCartan; B. Cooney, R. Connellan; K. O’Sullivan, R. Wallace, M. Whittaker; S. Baker, J. Heslin, B. Kelly.

Subs: S. Corcoran for S. Baker (5-16, Temp); H. Neill for Cooney (half-time); S. Ormsby for Connellan (40, Inj); J. Duncan for Whittaker (48); S. Corcoran for Kelly (61); R. Forde for Niall (65).

Referee: B. Griffin (Kerry).