No excuses, no hard luck stories and it could easily have been worse

By NOEL CARNEY Waterford ................... 2-23 Galway ........................ 2-13 YET ANOTHER season of cautious optimism and hopes of a step towards glory has ended in broken dreams and crushing disappointment. The pattern has become as predictable as it is frustrating for management, players and supporters. This latest disaster at Semple Stadium, Thurles last Sunday is worse than most as it appears we are now further away from the top tier than we have been for six years. At least last year we were only pipped by a point after leading late on in a thrilling encounter with Tipperary who went on to win the All-Ireland title, and in 2009 we were also on the wrong side of a one-point margin when Waterford came from three down to snatch victory at the death. Those defeats gave the illusion that we were not far off and that we just needed a better mental attitude.If only it were that simple. This time there are no saving graces, no hard luck stories, no officials to blame. The bitter truth is that we were second best in every line of the field except goalkeeper and had Waterford's forwards been more economical with their opportunities the defeat would have been more emphatic. As it is, they have now beaten us ten times in ten Championship meetings. The winners shot 17 wides, many of them bad ones, while Galway, reflecting their meagre amount of possession, had ten wides. Overall, Waterford responded to a seven-goal thrashing in their previous game with Tipperary with a ten-point win here. Even allowing for the gulf in class between the All-Ireland champions and last Sunday's opposition, that was a tremendous achievement and all credit to them. They fully deserved the plaudits that were handed out last weekend.It is easy to be wise with the benefit of hindsight but it now looks as if the mauling Galway were given by Tipperary at Pearse Stadium in the National League, the unimpressive struggle with Westmeath in the Championship and then the bad beating at the hands of Dublin reflected more of the real Galway than the outfit that looked so good against Clare and Cork. Both of those counties will be wondering where they stand in the pecking order now.Of course, every game is different and the Waterford fans who were devastated after the Tipperary humiliation would have travelled more in hope than confidence last Sunday. They needed a completely different Déise to turn up and that is precisely what they got. They also needed a good start in case any early setbacks triggered off mental scars and they could hardly believe their luck at getting a tonic goal in their first real attack: Galway goalkeeper James Skehill did well to stop Eoin Kelly's goal attempt from a 20-metre free and Shane Walsh reacted quickest to smash the ball to the net.That goal lifted Waterford, on and off the field. Even though Kevin Moran and Pauric Mahony (free) made it 1-2 to 0-0 we did not panic as we thought of what happened against Cork in the previous round and the feeling of déjà vu increased when Andy Smith responded with an excellent point from the left wing, just as he had when opening the Galway account against the Rebels.Young James Regan, a surprise call-up to make his first Championship start, filling in for the absent Alan Kerins who failed a fitness test, also got a fine score for Galway but Davy Fitzgerald's men were growing in confidence and a free conceded by Andy Smith was converted by Pauric Mahony. Gerard Farragher replied to that score from a placed ball and even though only ten minutes had elapsed there were worrying signs that Galway's approach was wrong. There were too many players indulging in flicked passes to team-mates in positions no better than themselves and, worse, men using only one hand on their hurls in attempts to win possession.Joe was too far out from goalMuch to Waterford's relief, Joe Canning was now well away from the danger area, out between left half-forward and midfield â€â€ a sure sign that Galway were in trouble. Damien Hayes, who had looked fired-up and dangerous early on from his right corner position, was now over on the left wing for some reason and his booking, which looked rather harsh, was probably affecting his approach. Regardless, he failed to replicate his promise of the opening quarter although in fairness to him and his forward colleagues the supply lines failed more and more as the game progressed.Even so, Galway were fairly economical in attack. They did shoot six wides in the first half but also had good spells. When Stephen Molumphy made it 1-4 to 0-3 some wonderful chasing and harrying by Damien Hayes won possession and his splendid cross set up an opportunity for Iarla Tannian who scored from close in. Then came a beauty from Joe Canning after a great passing movement and when Tannian won a penalty Canning blasted to the net with stunning power.Galway were now ahead for the first time, 1-5 to 1-4, and we hoped that their early sluggishness would be gone. We were wrong. John Mullane, really fired up and bubbling with enthusiasm, sent over an immediate reply and it took lovely ball control and a clearance under pressure by Fergal Moore to break up another attack. Waterford had already missed two goal chances which went wide but they always looked dangerous when they attacked.Shane Walsh, who gave Shane Kavanagh a torrid time in their League game when the Kinvara man was making his return from a long time on the injured list, was again isolated with the Galway No. 3 as the corner men moved out and despite Kavanagh's exemplary grit and determination the Decies man was causing a lot of trouble on the edge of the square.Nevertheless, Galway were still very much in touch and a Joe Canning point after he collected a Ger Farragher sideline cut levelled the match at 1-6 each on 21 minutes. John McIntyre's charges never seemed to have to right attitude, though. They were casual in their approach and careless with their use of the ball. Even though they would have been told time and again to expect a Waterford back-lash there were many times when you wondered if their sub-conscious told them that they were going to win because they had beaten Clare and Cork and the Déise County had been hammered last time out.Still, Galway were well in the running in the second quarter although Joe Canning was off target both from play and from a left wing free â€â€ much to the delight of the opposing fans. Kevin Moran, a man with a Tuam background, was ruling the roost at midfield and his playing partner Shane O'Sullivan was doing well too, but it has to be said that the marking in this area by Galway was virtually non-existent. Moran, for instance, had acres of space to fire over after being fed a sideline cut and Waterford were ahead again, 1-7 to 1-6.Gerard Farragher who in fairness was one of the few Galway men who looked as if he could score when in possession brought his team level. Iarla Tannian and Damien Hayes went close but wide and it was their opponents who finished the half stronger. Shane Walsh got a point from play and their new freetaker Pauric Mahony converted a free to establish a 1-9 to 1-7 lead at the interval.Was it because they were burdened with favouritism â€â€ Galway fans get nervous at the thought, given their experiences in the past â€â€ that their team was so out of sorts and unconvincing in the first half? Did it even matter as there was still half a game to play and a two-point lead is practically nothing in hurling? Only two points behind and they hadn't even started playing yet! All Galway needed to do was hit the ground running, get into their stride and move into top gear.Our bad start to second halfWaterford hadn't read the script. They came out with all guns blazing and they blitzed Galway with five points in six minutes. Pauric Mahony converted three frees as defenders, in desperation, were forced to keep out their opponents by any means. Shane Walsh and Eoin Kelly chipped in with points from play and the 1-14 to 1-7 lead gave cause for Galway concern, if not panic.Still, there were over 25 minutes remaining and a lot could happen. Cyril Donnellan was now on and he won a free that Joe Canning used to cut the gap. The puck-out however went to an unmarked Kevin Moran who immediately pointed and when there was only a quarter of an hour to go the lead had been stretched via John Mullane, Pauric Mahony (free) and Shane O'Sullivan. Joe Canning, now in at full-forward but getting little or no supply, landed a neat score from play and then drove over a 65 earned by his own low 30-metre free that had been deflected out. He then cut the deficit further when he found the target from a free awarded for a foul on himself after Séamus Prendergast had put his name on the scoresheet for Waterford.When sub Barry Daly made it 1-19 to 1-12 with seven minutes plus injury-time left, Galway badly needed a goal to give them hope. But they were unable to win the ball in any line of the field. Both midfielders and both wing-backs had been removed, as had wing-forward Joe Gantley, but they could be described as unlucky as most of those still on the field were no better than they were.Three more Waterford points from Stephen Molumphy (2) and Shane Walsh after two Galway backs seemed to collide, made the sorry story worse and when Galway needed a goal to make the result more bearable Tony Óg Regan's 65 went too far and over the bar. They did get a consolation goal eventually when sub Aidan Harte drove low to the net just after John Mullane had pointed at the other end, but sub Tom Ryan then got one for the winners, to rub salt into the wound. ON THIS evidence, Galway have gone backwards instead of forward. They are probably capable of better but, if so, why did they not produce the goods when the big occasion demanded it. Waterford were probably not as bad as they looked against Tipperary and when they got a chance of redemption they grasped it with both hands. Goalkeeper James Skehill, Fergal Moore, Ger Farragher, Damien Hayes and top scorer Joe Canning all their moments, especially in the first half, but the situation deteriorated as the game wore on. Sadly we did not have men with the drive, hunger and leadership of Tony Browne, Michael 'Brick' Walsh, Kevin Moran, John Mullane and Shane Walsh.  Galway are now out for the year and will not get a chance to show an improvement as Waterford did. It is a time for sober reflection and consideration, not one for knee-jerk reaction. The usual response is a call to sack the management but that is not always the correct decision.Without wishing to take sides in the inevitable great debates and inquests that will follow, the words of hard-hitting hurling analyst Tony Considine in Monday's Irish Examiner are worth remembering: 'They can give out all they like about John McIntyre, about the selectors (Joe Connolly, John Hardiman and John Moylan), but once they cross that white line it's up to the players, and not for the first time this year they didn't deliver.'All of the four men named above are decent, honest hurling men who want nothing but success for the team in their charge. It is by no means certain that they would wish to stay, of course, as it is a time-consuming task with little thanks when things go wrong. Critics will of course say that it is a results-driven business and call for new voices and say a fresh approach is required.Nothing can console the players who have sacrificed so much of their social lives and put so much physical effort into preparing for this game and other games and challenges, not to mention a gruelling training regime all year, only to fail in less than auspicious circumstances. Some of them may not get the chance to play at this level again as they were found wanting when it mattered in this do-or-die encounter. Tough, but it is a brutal fact of sporting life.On one hand, we have the best record of all when it comes to producing All-Ireland titles at club levels and we also have had a lot of success in underage grades although we may be slipping a little over the past couple of years. But the scene at senior level is very disappointing as we just cannot get past the quarter-final stage in the Championship. Not since 2005 when they defeated Kilkenny in that 5-18 to 4-18 thriller have Galway reached the last four.Galway, to be brutally honest, are no longer at the top table in senior hurling and this latest defeat is a potentially demoralising blow. There are no easy answers or quick-fix solutions but it is time for those in control to take a long-term view and whatever action is taken should only be taken after a detailed study of the set-up in the county. There are countless theories, too many to go into here, but it is time for a major re-think. This is not good enough.Many of the large number of supporters who travelled south â€â€ many families dressed in maroon and white, which was lovely to see â€â€ spent a lot of money and endured long delays in traffic before and after the game. They will be left with a bitter taste of disappointment and many may be reluctant to return for some time.Galway: J. Skehill; F. Moore, S. Kavanagh, D. Collins; D. Barry, T. Óg Regan (0-1, a 65), A. Cullinane; A. Smith (0-1), D. Burke; J. Gantley, G. Farragher (0-2), I. Tannian (0-1); D. Hayes, captain, J. Canning (1-6, 1-0 pen., 0-2 frees, 0-1 a 65), J. Regan (0-1). Subs., C. Donnellan for Gantley (40 mins), K. Hynes for Barry (43 mins), J. Lee for Cullinane (inj., 47 mins), B. Daly (0-1), for Smith (42 mins); A. Harte (1-0), for Burke (61 mins).Waterford: C. Hennessy; D. Fives, L. Lawlor, N. Connors; T. Browne, M. Walsh, D. O'Sullivan; K. Moran (0-3), S. O'Sullivan (0-1); S. Prendergast (0-1), J. Mullane (0-3), P. Mahony (0-7, all frees); E. Kelly (0-1), S. Walsh (1-4), S. Molumphy, captain (0-3). Subs: R. Foley for Kelly (64 mins), S. Casey for S. Prendergast (70 mins), D. Prendergast for Browne (71 mins), T. Ryan (1-0), for Mullane (72 mins).Referee: Cathal McAllister (Cork).Herald Sport Man of the Match: Kevin Moran (Waterford). â€â€ N.C.