Galway v Wexford - July 13 - Senior Hurling

Joe Clarke Runs Through the Galway Defence

Wexford 1-14 Galway 3-14

Galway and Wexford played a hotly contested game of Hurling with Galway having a chance to share the top spot with Wexford. With the juniors having won earlier in the day, the Galway seniors made it two for two with a solid win. In the forward line Fintan O’Leary and Declan Coulter were prominent for Galway, and James Kinsella and Paul Carey did well in the middle of the field. It was not until midway through the second half that Galway began to pull away, and three goals in the period secured the points for the westerners.

Gavin Nolan on his way to Scoring Wexford's First Half Goal

Galway got off to the better start with five points on the trot. Declan Coulter showed some expert marksmanship, the Armagh man scoring four of the five, and Ballinhassig, Co. Cork, native Fintan O’Leary pointed once. Kilkenny prodigy, Gavin Nolan answered for Wexford after 10 minutes. Edmund Sproul then made a fantastic save for Wexford to deny Galway a certain goal, and the save signaled a scoring spree for Wexford. Gavin Nolan stole in behind his man and beat the keeper from 14 yards to bring Wexford within a point. Shane Hennessy then pointed from the wing and it was all square. The sides traded points until half time, with Wexford getting the extra to put them ahead going into the break. Hennessy and Nolan pointed for Wexford and Stephen Dineen and Fintan O’Leary for Galway.

Galway turned it up in the second half. After Mick McMahon and Dominic McGill swapped scores, McGill’s point a superb long range effort, O’ Leary buried a goal to put Galway two to the good. Wexford answered in expert fashion with three points, Shane Hennessy, Dominic McGill, and Nicky Quinlan pointed, with Quinlan’s score put Wexford one to the good. Wexford looked like they could gain control the game, and looked the more likely winners at that point, but Galway had other ideas. Coulter put the tribesman ahead once more with a goal. Christopher O’Connor had a great chance to put Galway further ahead as he found himself with just Sproul to beat in the Wexford goal, but he mis-hit his shot and Sproul happily gathered the sliothar to clear.

A third goal for Galway came through O’Leary. A high ball was forced into the back of the net from close range. Gary Burke, who had come on as a sub pointed twice on the trot to put Galway seven points up with eight minutes remaining. Paul Carey and O’Leary each pointed for Galway, to three points down the stretch for Wexford, to get themselves level at the top of the table with Wexford. The defending champions, Wexford, must be looking over their shoulders having suffered their first defeat in 2 seasons.

Wexford: E. Sprun, B. Dalton, P. Holden,D. Redmond, Dominic McGill (0-2), D. Brennan, Nicky Quinlan (0-1), R. Kehoe, J. Clarke, P. Ryan, Shane Hennessy (0-4), Gavin Nolan (1-4), Christy O’Connor (0-1). Sub; (0-2). Galway: D. Star, M. O’Donnell, D. Kennelly, E. Foley, K. Murphy, D. Brennan, J. Kinsella, Paul Carey (0-1), D. Fitzgerald, Stephen Dineen (0-1), Fintan O’Leary (2-4), Declan Coulter (1-5), J. Byrne. Subs: Mick McMahon (0-1), Gary Burke (0-2).

By Rory O'Donnell