Galway got it right at last in topsy-turvy League table

By NOEL CARNEY Galway .0-15 Waterford .0-12 WHAT A DIFFERENCE an hour makes. At 3.00pm last Sunday as Galway hurlers lined up to face the home side Waterford at Walsh Park they were bottom of the Division 1A table with a bad points difference total while their hosts were perched proudly at the top and looking forward to a place in the semi-finals. Sixty minutes later it was Anthony Cunninghamâ€â„¢s team who were in pole position for a penultimate round meeting with Kilkenny. This truly was an amazing competition with several twists and turns for every team in it. And it continued to sway this and that, right to the final whistle in each of the three games played on Sunday. Cynics might claim that every county was more interested in avoiding relegation and trying out new players than winning it, but one fact cannot be argued â€â€ it produced several exciting games. There was plenty of entertainment for the supporters with each county having good days and not so good ones. The upshot of it all is that Anthony Cunningham and Brian Cody must now plot their next moves, bearing in mind that there is every likelihood they will clash again in the Leinster championship final next July 7 at Croke Park. Thatâ€â„¢s a mouth-watering prospect, indeed both meetings are, but we now have to wait until April 21 for the League semi-final. Tipperary, as 1A table-toppers, await the victors from the Limerick-Dublin Division 1B decider. Clare, who seemed to be going so well a few weeks ago, now must beat Cork, who destroyed Tipperary in their opening match, to avoid relegation after only one season in the top tier. That would be a cruel fate for Davy Fitzgeraldâ€â„¢s charges. At one point late in the Galway-Waterford match, the man on my left, busily scanning his smart-phone, declared that â€Å“as things stand now, Waterford have to score one more point to avoid going into the relegation game.â€Â That may be great for the excitement levels and a test for mathematical wizards but it also highlights the downside to all the positivity of having every game a tension-filled one. A simple mistake by one player or even by an official could undo so much good work in an instant. It was curious to read quotes by Waterford manager Michael Ryan on the refereeing performance of Anthony Stapleton (Laois). While not blaming him for their defeat and admitting that â€Å“it is easy to blame refereesâ€Â he stated that he was â€Å“surprised by a few of them (decisions) that went against us.â€Â It was true that Galway got the benefit of the doubt (for once) on a couple of occasions in the first half but it was a different story after the break. At one stage during the second half he had awarded ten frees to the Déise men and none to the visitors! When the first placed ball was eventually given less than ten minutes from time, it drew sarcastic cheers from the Maroon and White faithful. The match official was also judging from distance when he decided to disallow the Galway â€Å“goalâ€Â when Joe Canningâ€â„¢s huge sideline cut ended up in the net, probably helped by a David Burke touch. The old reliable â€Å“square ballâ€Â rule was the defining factor. Galway forwards did not agree with the interpretation. Still, the visiting supporters from the west who made the long trip to the South-East were always in good humour despite the biting cold wind that blew into the faces of their heroes in the first half. At the end of that opening period Galway had overcome the elements and a Waterford side that was performing poorly, to lead 0-8 to 0-3. There was much to admire in that performance by Anthony Cunninghamâ€â„¢s men. The lethargy they had shown against Clare and Tipperary and the carelessness so evident late on when they drew with Cork were gone. Instead they were fired-up, eager and intent on winning every ball that came their way. Often a slow-moving Déise side got swallowed up by tigerish Galway tackling, hooking and blocking. The visiting defence was rock-solid, conceding only three points, one of those a free by Jake Dillon, in that opening 35 minutes plus. Jamie Barron and Brian Oâ€â„¢Halloran scored from play to leave them a point in arrears, 0-4 to 0-3, after twelve minutes. Incredibly, they did not score again in the first half despite having the aid of a stiff wind behind them. Galwayâ€â„¢s early quartet of white flags came courtesy of Iarla Tannian who was back to his best form in a rousing display at midfield, Davy Glennon who had another super game, Niall Burke and Joe Canning. A penetrating run by Cyril Donnellan then sent Glennon clear but he was bundled to the ground and a penalty ensued. However, Joe Canning failed to connect properly and his effort was stopped by Shane Oâ€â„¢Sullivan. It drew the biggest cheer of the day from the local support. That was a let-off for the home side but there was to be no further respite for them as Galway powered on. Iarla Tannian brilliantly robbed an opponent and drove over a fine score, Joe Canning, operating at left-half forward, scored from a free and from play before the returning Niall Burke rounded off the 0-8 halfway tally. It gave them a five-point lead and with the elements in their favour afterwards they could afford to be happy but not complacent. Waterford, to their credit, upped their efforts considerably when play resumed and their scoring return of 0-9 for the half was a big improvement of their paltry 0-3 before the interval. But the visitors more or less matched them score for score and the deficit was never less than three. When that did happen after a brace of Maurice Shanahan frees, Galway answered it with three of their own from David Burke, Davy Glennon and Cyril Donnellan to surge into a 0-13 to 7 lead. Michael Ryanâ€â„¢s men were relying too much on the physicality and determination of Seamus Prendergast and the accuracy from placed balls of Maurice Shanahan for scores while Ian Oâ€â„¢Regan in goals, Jamie Nagle, Michael â€Å“Brick Walsh, Shane Oâ€â„¢Sullivan and the team captain with Tuam blood, Kevin Moran, were also among their best players as they tried to stem the Galway tide. For once, Galway had to rely to some extent on players other than J.C. for pushing their tally along. Yes, the Portumna man contributed a not to be sneered at 0-5 with two of them lovely efforts from play and he set up others but he had five wides and failed to score from a penalty. It only brought smiles from the Galway supporters who realised that he is human after all. The misses didnâ€â„¢t prove costly though, as Davy Glennon â€â€ what a find he has been in this competition â€â€ weighed in with three points to add to his score in the first period, David Burke and Cyril Donnellan who again ran himself to a standstill, all got on the scoresheet. Oh, and in case anybody thinks that Big Joe was fading, he stopped the Waterford comeback in its tracks late on with a crucial free and a delightful score from play, struck from far out. Those points were needed as the home side were rallying in determined fashion with enthusiastic local support urging them on. Galway held on for a deserved win that earns them at least one more game as they fine-tune their resources and consider their options for the Leinster Championship and the defence of their title. There were no obvious weak links last Sunday with a strong defence in front of Colm Callanan and play-anywhere Aidan Harte showed that he could be an option for wing-back. The outstanding Iarla Tannian has one midfield slot nailed down but the towering young Sarsfields man Joseph Cooney will be challenging Andrew Smith for the No. 9 position. Up front there are a number of places to be decided. Davy Glennon, Joe Canning and Cyril Donnellan were their best here but Niall Burke, just back after injury, showed encouraging touches while David Burke and Conor Cooney are just back from celebrating their wonderful All-Ireland club win with St Thomasâ€â„¢s. Subs Damien Hayes, Andrew Smith, Jonathan Glynn, James Regan and Brian Flaherty all got a run and showed they can compete with the best. There will be plenty of interest in which fifteen will be selected to face Kilkenny in the League semi-final and whether laying down a marker for the future or keeping cards close to chest will be the dominant factor in managementâ€â„¢s thinking. Galway: C. Callanan; F. Moore, K. Hynes, N. Donohue; A. Harte, D. Collins, J. Coen; I. Tannian (0-2), J. Cooney; D. Burke (0-1), C. Cooney, J. Canning (0-5, three frees); D. Glennon (0-4), C. Donnellan (0-1), N. Burke (0-2). Subs: D. Hayes for N. Burke, A. Smith for J. Cooney, J. Glynn for C. Cooney, J. Regan for Donnellan, B. Flaherty for D. Burke.   Waterford: I. Oâ€â„¢Regan; S. Fives, L. Lawlor, S. Daniels; J. Nagle, M. Walsh, D. Fives; S. Oâ€â„¢Sullivan (0-1), K. Moran; M. Shanahan (0-7, five frees, one 65), S. Prendergast (0-1), B. Oâ€â„¢Halloran (0-1); R. Barry, J. Dillon (0-1, free), J. Barron (0-1). Subs: P. Mahony for Oâ€â„¢Halloran, S. Walsh for Barry, B. Oâ€â„¢Sullivan for Dillon. Referee: Anthony Stapleton (Laois). Herald Sport Man of the Match: Iarla Tannian (Galway).