Galway 2-22

Waterford 2-19

Ciaran McGreal reports from Pearse Stadium

GALWAY WILL PLAY Limerick in the league semi-final as they defeated Waterford by three points at Pearse Stadium. Joe Canning scored 1-10 for the hosts as they produced a brilliant comeback having trailed by ten points after 44 minutes.

Six unanswered points from Waterford inside the first ten minutes gave them a strong foothold in the game with Stephen Roche and Maurice Shanahan in fine form.

Galway responded with points from Conor Whelan and Joe Canning but further points from DJ Foran and Shanahan (2) gave Waterford a 0-10 to 0-2 lead after just 18 minutes.

Canning had a chance to close the gap but his 21st minute penalty was saved by Ian O’Regan. The home side got their goal three minutes later though as Conor Cooney arrowed the ball to the net after a brilliant pass from Cathal Mannion.

This gave a Galway a much needed boost as they outscored Waterford seven points to four in the latter stages of the first half.

Tom Devine’s goals in the 43rd and 44th minute both came from brilliant deliveries from Mark O’Brien and Stephen Bennett respectively. Colm Callanan got a touch to the first goal but Devine gave him no chance with the second as he put Waterford 2-17 to 1-10 up.

Galway needed a big response and they got it as points from Canning (4), Aidan Harte, Niall Burke and Conor Whelan brought Galway within three points of Waterford.

And Canning atoned for his earlier penalty miss as he blasted the ball to the net in the 64th minute after Tadhg de Búrca fouled Cathal Mannion with the goal at his mercy.

Padraic Mannion’s point put Galway 2-20 to 2-19 up with five minutes to go and Harte stretched the lead to two pointsa minute later.

Canning was sent off late on for a second bookable offence but it mattered little as David Burke added a further point as Galway pulled off a miraculous comeback.

Scorers for Galway: Joe Canning 1-10 (1-0 pen, 4f), Conor Cooney 1-0, Conor Whelan 0-3, Aidan Harte 0-2, Cathal Mannion 0-2, Niall Burke 0-2, Padraic Mannion 0-1, Thomas Monaghan 0-1, David Burke 0-1.

Scorers for Waterford: Maurice Shanahan 0-6 (4f), Tom Devine 2-1, Stephen Roche 0-3, Tommy Ryan 0-2, DJ Foran 0-2, Kevin Moran 0-2, Stephen Bennett 0-1, Seamus Keating 0-1, Mark O’Brien 0-1.

Galway

1. Colm Callanan (Kinvara)

3. John Hanbury (Rahoon-Newcastle)
18. Daitihi Burke (Turloughmore)
4. Aidan Harte (Gort)

5. Padraic Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)
7. Gearoid McInerney (Oranmore-Maree)
17. Paul Killeen (Tynagh-Abbey/Duniry)

6. Adrian Tuohy (Beagh)
8. Johnny Coen (Loughrea)

11. Joseph Cooney (Sarsfields)
10. Joe Canning (Portumna)
9. David Burke (St Thomas’)

20. Conor Whelan (Kinvara)
15. Conor Cooney (St Thomas’)
13. Cathal Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)

Substitutes

25. Thomas Monaghan (Craughwell) for Hanbury (23)
24. Niall Burke (Oranmore-Maree) for Joseph Cooney (52)
26. Shane Maloney (Tynagh-Abbey/Duniry) for Conor Cooney (68)

Waterford

1. Ian O’Regan (Mount Sion)

3. Kieran Bennett (Ballysaggart)
4. Shane McNulty (De La Salle)
2. Shane Fives (Tourin)

7. Conor Gleeson (Fourmilewater)
5. Tadhg De Búrca (Clashmore/Kinsalebeg)
18. Seamus Keating (Ardmore)

10. Kevin Moran (De La Salle)
8. Mark O’Brien (Ferrybank)

23. Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart)
11. Stephen Roche (Mount Sion)
14. DJ Foran (Portlaw)

9. Tommy Ryan (Tallow)
21. Maurice Shanahan (Lismore)
13. Tom Devine (Modeligo)

Substitutes

24. Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart) for Foran (52)
17. Noel Connors (Passage) for Keating (55)
12. Michael Walsh (Stradbally) for O’Brien (58)
22. Brian O’Halloran (Clashmore-Kinsalebeg) for Ryan (59)
26. Pauric Mahony (Ballygunner) for Roche (61).

Referee: Barry Kelly (Westmeath)

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