INJURIES STRUCK DOWN two key performers for Galway at half-time of today’s All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final.
Manager Michéal Donoghue confirmed after the game that defender Adrian Tuohy suffered a dislocated elbow while attacker Joe Canning limped off with a hamstring injury.
Canning had been in the wars in the opening period, shipping a heavy challenge from Padraic Maher in the 24th minute which forced both players off with blood injuries.
Canning returned to the action only to damage his hamstring before the interval when racing to get possession near the Cusack Stand side. He didn’t return for the second-half after having hit 0-5 in the opening period and was replaced by Cyril Donnellan.
Tuohy suffered his injury just before the interval with Andy Smith coming on to replace him.
Donoghue revealed they were ‘bitterly disappointed’ to narrowly lose out.
“I can’t fault the players attitude or application. A hugely disappointed dressing room down there.
“Coming into the game, the chat was it was going to be a shootout. From a manager’s perspective and I’m sure Mick was the same, didn’t want it to turn out that way. Inevitably it did and the game ebbed and lowed.
“The way it was going, obviously just bitterly disappointed we didn’t get something out of it. Just bitterly disappointed.
“We lost two guys that were performing really well in Adrian Tuohy and Joe. Adrian got a dislocated elbow and Joe got a hamstring injury.
“That was a big loss for us as a group but in fairness to the lads that came in, they put in a huge effort and shoulder to the wheel. (We’re) very proud.”
Galway looked to have struck a decisive blow when Joseph Cooney plundered their second goal in the 43rd minute yet the next three scores of the game were delivered by Tipperary as they wiped out Galway’s advantage.
“When Joe got the goal at the start of the second half, I just felt maybe if we’d got a few more points just to push it out a bit.
“It might have given us a bit of time to settle. Look you know, the lads worked really hard. We defended very well.
“I thought we responded well when Bubbles got the goal. John McGrath scored then, it was just harder to get back.
“That was the disappointing thing in the last few minutes, needed that break for a big score. It was a great finish.
“(It’s) a testament to our boys, they showed huge character and I’m really proud of the effort they put in. It was a massive shift.”
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Really annoying, sloppy and unprofessional performance from Connacht. A young Ospreys team were allowed to get on the front foot due to two huge errors from TO’H and Kelleher. The two lads are good for a significant error in most games, last night they had them within minutes of each other. Back three is an area that needs some serious attention I’d suggest – their first job is to defend and that just hasn’t been happening effectively over the last couple of seasons.
Hugely disappointing. The push in the lineout really annoyed me though. Their number 8 should have seen a second yellow for and gone for that. Ridiculous. Could have been a different outcome then, however we did struggle earlier against 14 men. To allow Ospreys come out of that with 5 points could be huge later in the year. Need a massive performance next week against dragons.
Hugely disappointing. Backs very sloppy. As Darragh states above the back three were just not good enough tonight. TOH’s decline over the past two years has been pitiful. If fit, it’s now time to play Leader at 15. Niyi had a nightmare last night too, and a starting place needs to be found for Godwin. Blade also improved things greatly when brought on and it has to be said is playing better than Marmion at the moment.
@David Finn: couldn’t agree more. I just feel there’s been a stagnation among the back 3, like where’s the standards lads? It’s sad to see Tiernan go from someone who it was felt was on the cusp of an international breakthrough to not even being in the conversation anymore. Kelleher started off like a steam train after his move from Leinster but through injuries lost momentum. I was hoping after a full pre-season he would play himself back into form but that’s not the first time this season he has made that same mistake, and he is hesitant on 50/50 balls. As for Niyi? It seems a long way from the guy who was hitting rucks and securing turnovers in 2016. Maybe this is why they were after Sevu Reece, trying to shake things up? You’re right about Godwin, too much class to leave on the bench.
So close at the end, Connacht put in a clever tap out of hand just before Ospreys put down, was good work, unfortunately it went forward and Ospreys were all over it after that.