Allianz Hurling League Quarter-Final

GALWAY 2-22 WATERFORD 2-19

By Declan Rooney at Pearse Stadium

Two goals from Tom Devine in a minute during the second-half looked to have sealed Waterford’s progress into the Allianz Hurling League Semi-Final, but Joe Canning inspired the home side to a stunning late comeback at Pearse Stadium.

Waterford didn’t score in the last 19 minutes as Canning hit a penalty and Galway fired an unanswered 1-7 to take the win.

Galway now face Limerick, but the fitness of Canning will be a big worry after he was sent off in added-time and limped gingerly from the field.

Last weekend Galway got off to a slow start against Limerick and they eventually claimed a win to sign off their Division 1B campaign. But this afternoon at Pearse Stadium they trailed by 0-6 to 0-0 after 10 minutes and by 0-10 to 0-2 after 18 minutes.

It was a desperate start from the Tribesmen who struggled under the high ball at the back, displayed a sub-par first touch, and hit five wides in the first quarter.

Starting in the full-forward line but with the No 9 on his back Tommy Ryan caused havoc early on, and drew the free that saw Maurice Shanahan launch the Waterford scoring in the second minute. After a brief lull, Stephen Bennett, Tommy Ryan, DJ Foran, Kevin Moran and Stephen Roche all hit unanswered points form play for the Déise.

Conor Whelan was in blistering form for the Tribesmen and it was his score in the 12th minute that finally got them off the mark, but Waterford were full deserving of an eight-point lead when Shanahan drilled over his third free.

Galway should have pushed themselves back into the tie after 21 minutes, but Joe Canning saw his penalty saved by Ian O’Regan, nevertheless, from there to the interval it was Galway who looked the sharper side.

Conor Cooney’s goal 11 minutes from the break lifted their hopes and after a Canning free and Cathal Mannion’s point, Whelan landed a great score from the sideline to cut the lead to four.

Roche stopped the Galway run of points at the other end, but the Tribesmen added three more before the break as Waterford led by 0-15 to 1-9 at half-time.

Devine’s first goal came in the 43rd minute after a brilliant pass form Mark O’Brien sent him on his way, while less than a minute later he got in behind Daithi Burke and finished low past Colm Callanan, who had denied Stephen Bennett with a brilliant save a couple of minutes earlier.

Four points in a row from Joe Canning close the home side to within six points with 15 minutes remaining.

Devine looked to have hit the insurance score for his side in the 56th minute, but they failed to score after that as Canning and Niall Burke inspired the Tribesmen to a memorable win.

**Scorers for Galway: **Joe Canning 1-10 (1-0 pen, 4fs), Conor Cooney 1-0, Conor Whelan 0-3. Aidan Harte, Cathal Mannion and Niall Burke 0-2 each, Padraic Mannion, Thomas Monaghan 0-1 each.

**Scorers for Waterford: **Maurice Shanahan 0-6 (4fs), Tom Devine 2-1, Stephen Roche 0-3, Tommy Ryan, DJ Foran and Kevin Moran 0-2 each, Stephen Bennett, Seamus Keating, Mark O’Brien 0-1 each.

GALWAY: Colm Callanan; John Hanbury, Daithi Burke, Aidan Harte; Padraic Mannion, Gearoid McInerney, Paul Killeen; Adrian Tuohy, Johnny Coen; Joseph Cooney, Joe Canning, David Burke; Conor Whelan, Conor Cooney, Cathal Mannion.

Subs: Thomas Monaghan for John Hanbury (23), Niall Burke for Joseph Cooney (64), Shane Maloney for Conor Cooney (68).

WATERFORD: Ian O’Regan; Kieran Bennett, Shane McNulty, Shane Fives; Conor Gleeson, Tadhg de Búrca, Seamus Keating; Kevin Moran, Mark O’Brien; Stephen Bennett, Stephen Roche, DJ Foran; Tommy Ryan, Maurice Shanahan, Tom Devine.

Subs: Shane Bennett for DJ Foran (52), Noel Connors for Seamus Keating (55), Michael Walsh for Mark O’Brien (58), Brian O’Halloran for Tommy Ryan (59), Pauric Mahony for Roche (61).

REFEREE: Barry Kelly (Westmeath).