Antrim outclassed by razor sharp Galway

Allianz Hurling League Division 1B game at Corrigan Park.

Antrim 1-13 Galway 2-35

Galway came to Corrigan Park on Sunday and gave Antrim’s inexperienced team a hurling lesson as they swept to a 25 point victory with a devastating display of fast and accurate play. The tribesmen were simply on a different level in every aspect of the game, their first touch, their score taking ability from all distances and angles, and most of all their ability win the ball.

Antrim gave it everything they got but they were on the back foot for long parts of the game. They recovered from a horrible start, when they conceded a goal in the opening minute following a defensive mistake, but they fought back and got themselves back in the game with some well taken points and a goal from full forward Joseph McLaughlin. They were never really going to trouble Galway, but their first half showing was more than respectable.

***Thomas McLaughlin celebrates after scoing Antrim’s goal, while Niall McKenna, who set up the score, shows his delight***

However after the break Galway, came out and blew the home side away, scoring at will to stretch their lead by the minute as they recorded their second win in the division.

The home team had no answer to Galway’s play and that ability they had of winning prime possession gave them time and space to pick out the target. Flynn grabbed his team’s second goal soon after the restart and they set displaying their wide range of skills with scores from all over the field. Evan Niland ended the day with 0-13 to his name, ten of them from play while Flynn grabbed 2-1 Tom Monaghan 0-6, Conor Cooney 0-4 and Seán Linnane 0-3.

***The games top scorer, Galway corner forward Evan Niland wore 13 on his back and scored 13 points***

Antrim goalscorer Thomas McLaughlin came close to grabbing a second major when he lobbed the ball over the advancing Galway goalkeeper, but the ball rebounded off the crossbar. Corner back Paddy Burke loves to get forward and have a pop at the posts, and he did it again today, grabbing two points, and fellow defender Niall O’Connor did the same, but it wasn’t to be a day for the forwards, who largely struggled, though Niall McKenna worked his socks off from beginning to end.

The Fibrus Antrim player of the match award went to full back Rory McCloskey who did well to hold Galway full forward Conor Whelan to just two points. Overall it was a day to forget the men in Saffron, and their fans and the thoughts must turn to Mullingar and a basement battle with Westmeath.

**Antrim’s Niall McKenna and Galway’s Ciaran Fahy battle it out below the dropping ball**

Scorers – Galway: E Niland 0-13 (10f), J Flynn 2-1, T Monaghan 0-6, C Cooney 0-4, S Linnane 0-3, C Fahy 0-2, C Whelan 0-2, J Ryan 0-2, G Lee 0-1, J Cooney 0-1.

Antrim: J McLaughlin 1-0, E Campbell 0-2, P Burke 0-2, C Cunning 0-2 (1f), C McCann 0-2, R McMullan 0-1, N O’Connor 0-1, R McGary 0-1, N McKenna 0-1, C McGarry 0-1.

ANTRIM: T Smyth; P Duffin, R McCloskey, P Burke; N O’Connor, R McGarry, S Walsh; R McAteer, E Campbell; R McMullan, A O’Brien, N McKenna; C Cunning, J McLaughlin, F McCurry Subs: E Trainor for R McAteer (45), E Og McGarry for E Campbell (45), C McCann for F McCurry (45), C McGarry for A O’Brien (56), A Bradley for J McLaughlin (63)

GALWAY: D Fahy; D Morrissey, F Burke, P Mannion; A Tuohey, C Fahy, Daithí Burke; David Burke, S Linnane; G Lee, T Monaghan, C Cooney; E Niland, C Whelan, J Flynn. Subs: R Glennon for G Lee (52), J Ryan for C Whelan (52), D O’Shea for David Burke (54), C Mahoney for Daithí Burke (57), J Cooney for C Cooney (58)