Galway 3-22

Cork 2-17

GALWAY’S PROMOTION PROSPECTS received another major boost as Shane Walsh put on a scoring masterclass in their successful trip to Cork this evening.

Padraic Joyce’s side, who had last week’s game postponed against Offaly, claimed their third win on the bounce in Division 2 of the football league, with Walsh shooting 2-8 and attacking colleague Damien Comer also finding the net.

For Cork a struggling league campaign continues as they sustained their third loss in the second tier and are set for a relegation scrap.

Steven Sherlock excelled in attack for Keith Ricken’s team as he fired 0-10, while goals arrived in either half from youngsters Blake Murphy and Daniel O’Connell.

But after a competitive opening half which saw the teams tied at 1-12 apiece at the break, the complexion of the game changed in the second half as Galway dominated.

Steven Sherlock impressed for Cork. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO

Murphy’s early goal gave Cork an ideal start but Galway took a firm grip thereafter with Walsh netting from the penalty spot, while inside forwards Robert Finnerty and Dessie Conneely both found their range to push their side ahead 1-8 to 1-4.

Then Cork responded impressively with five points in a row, four from Sherlock and one by Murphy, to nudge ahead. An entertaining first half concluded with the teams swapping scores, John O’Rourke’s effort leaving them tied at the break.

The teams were initially well-matched in the second half but Cork only hit 1-5 after the break, struggling to supplement Sherlock’s scoring input. The class of Walsh showed as he dictated matters for Galway, bagging their third goal after Comer had found the net for the second, and it was 3-16 to 1-15 in their favour by the 54th minute.

Galway’s lead had grown to 12 points approaching full-time but Cork managed to chip away with O’Connell’s goal and a Rory Maguire point, cutting the eventual deficit.

That could be important in their fight to avoid the drop with Meath in Navan up next, promotion chasing Galway will be at home to Clare.

Scorers for Galway: Shane Walsh 2-7 (0-4f, 1-0 pen), Robert Finnerty 0-4, Damien Comer 1-1, Matthew Tierney 0-2, Dylan McHugh 0-2, Dessie Conneely 0-2, Kieran Molloy 0-1, Paul Conroy 0-1, Owen Gallagher 0-1, Tony Gill 0-1.

Scorers for Cork: Steven Sherlock 0-10 (0-6f), Blake Murphy 1-2, Daniel O’Connell 1-0, Kevin O’Donovan 0-1, Ian Maguire 0-1, Rory Maguire 0-1, John O’Rourke 0-1, Tadhg Corkery 0-1.

Galway

Conor Flaherty (Claregalway)

Sean Kelly (Moycullen), Kieran Molloy (Corofin), Liam Silke (Corofin)

Dylan McHugh (Corofin), John Daly (Mountbellew-Moylough), Johnny Heaney (Killanin)

PauL Conroy (St James), Matthew Tierney (Oughterard)

Paul Kelly (Moycullen), Shane Walsh (Kilkerrin-Clonberne), Owen Gallagher (Moycullen)

Robert Finnerty (Salthill-Knocknacarra), Damien Comer (Annaghadown), Dessie Conneely (Moycullen)

Subs

Cathal Sweeney (Salthill-Knocknacarra) for Gallagher (40)

Tony Gill (Corofin) for Paul Kelly (55)

Finian Ó Laoi (An Spidéal) for Heaney (60)

Darragh Silke (Corofin) for Walsh (64)

N Daly for Conroy (69)

Cork

Chris Kelly (Éire Óg)

Billy Hennessy (St Finbarr’s), Kevin Flahive (Douglas), Tadhg Corkery (Cill na Martra)

Kevin O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers), Sean Meehan (Kiskeam), Mattie Taylor (Mallow)

Ian Maguire (St Finbarr’s), Rory Maguire (Castlehaven)

Daniel Dineen (Cill na Martra), Fionn Herlihy (Dohenys), Colm O’Callaghan (Éire Óg)

Blake Murphy (St Vincent’s), Steven Sherlock (St Finbarr’s), John O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers)

Subs

Cian Kiely (Ballincollig) for Meehan (inj) (43)

Paudie Allen (Newmarket) for Corkery (58)

Eoghan McSweeney (Knocknagree) for Hennessy (62)

Daniel O’Connell (Kanturk) for O’Rourke (65)

Micheal Martin (Nemo Rangers) for Kelly (66)

Referee: Cormac Reilly (Meath) 

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