All-Ireland SHC SF: Gritty Galway reach decider

Galway's Ronan Glennon and Aaron Niland celebrate at Croke Park. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

All-Ireland SHC Semi-Final

Galway 2-26 Cork 1-18

By Cian O'Connell at Croke Park

An exciting Galway outfit - with a potent blend of emerging and established talent - delivered in style.

Micheál Donoghue and his backroom team have steered Galway back into an All-Ireland decider as a dynamic display defeated Cork at GAA headquarters.

A blistering start signalled Galway's significant intentions. Then, the worry arrived when Cork reeled off 1-4 without reply to lead 1-12 to 1-7 as the interval approached.

Galway, though, demonstrated defiance clipping five of the last six first half points to ensure only the minimum was the deficit at the turnaround, 1-13 to 1-12.

After the restart the game was about Galway's purpose and passion. Cork were restricted to five points. The match altering third quarter burst featured nine unanswered Galway scores.

Cork just couldn't recover and another harrowing loss at the Jones Road venue suffered.

Initially, Galway had edged 0-3 to 0-2 ahead before Conor Whelan released Darragh Neary to plant a sixth minute goal. The splendid Jason Rabbitte added a point to steer Galway 1-4 to 0-2 in front.

Cork, prompted by the excellent Brian Hayes, did summon a response, narrowing the gap to one, 1-6 to 0-8 by the 18th minute.

Tiernan Killeen fired over a Galway point, but then Cork enjoyed a spell of supremacy. Inside Hayes was doing damage and the St Finbarr's attacker supplied a point to leave Cork trailing by one.

Alan Walsh fetched an Eoin Downey sideline cut, and subsequently rattled the Galway net. Cork were two clear and further scores from Hayes (2) and Darragh Fitzgibbon embellished the lead.

Despite the setback, Galway finished the opening period impressively. Rabbitte was relevant, while captain Darren Morrissey, the sweet striking Tom Monaghan, and Aaron Niland all supplied points ensuring Cork's advantage was trimmed.

After the restart Gavin Lee and Shane Barrett traded points, but Galway seized the initiative. Ronan Glennon, who was immense, Padraic Mannion, Monaghan, Rabbitte, Whelan, Lee, and Cathal Mannion all contributed as Galway manufactured a 1-22 to 1-14 advantage.

Cork terminated a 16 minute search for a score when Hayes pointed. Substitute William Buckley announced his arrival with a further Cork effort, but Galway were unperturbed.

In the 55th minute Fitzgibbon was sent off for a second bookable offence following a foul on Glennon and Galway closed out the deal with the minimum of fuss.

Replacements John Fleming and Conor Cooney craved involvement. Deep into injury time the opportunistic Cooney, with a flash of class, decorated the win with the insurance goal. A guttural Galway roar greeted the full-time whistle.

Scorers for Galway: Conor Cooney 1-1, Tom Monaghan 0-4, Darragh Neary 1-0, Conor Whelan, Jason Rabbitte, Ronan Glennon, Cathal Mannion (2fs), and Aaron Niland (3fs) 0-3 each, Gavin Lee 0-2, Tiernan Killeen, John Fleming, Padraic Mannion, and Darren Morrissey 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cork: Brian Hayes 0-7, Alan Connolly 0-4 (3fs), Alan Walsh 1-0, Shane Barrett 0-3 (1f), Darragh Fitzgibbon 0-2, William Buckley and Barry Walsh (f) 0-1 each.

Galway: Darach Fahy; Joshua Ryan, Daithí Burke, Cillian Trayers; Padraic Mannion, Darren Morrissey, Ronan Glennon; Tiernan Killeen, Gavin Lee; Tom Monaghan, Cathal Mannion, Darragh Neary; Conor Whelan, Jason Rabbitte, Aaron Niland.

Subs: Cian Daniels for P Mannion (15-16), Conor Cooney for Niland (47), Cian Daniels for Ryan (56), John Fleming for Killeen (62), Brian Concannon for Lee (66), Seán Linnane for Neary (70+1).

Cork: Patrick Collins; Niall O'Leary, Damien Cahalane, Seán O'Donoghue; Eoin Downey, Rob Downey, Mark Coleman; Tim O'Mahony, Tommy O'Connell; Darragh Fitzgibbon, Shane Barrett, Diarmuid Healy; Alan Walsh, Alan Connolly, Brian Hayes.

Subs: Cormac O'Brien for Cahalane (HT), Robbie O'Flynn for O'Connell (48), William Buckley for Connolly (51), Barry Walsh for Walsh (52), Ger Millerick for E Downey (61).

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick).

Shane Barrett, Cork, and Cillian Trayers, Galway, in All-Ireland SHC Semi-Final action at Croke Park. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile