Leinster SHC: Galway comeback clinches place in final

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship

Galway 2-31 Wexford 3-20

By Ronan Fagan at Chadwicks Wexford Park

Galway produced a mammoth 21-point turnaround at a baking Chadwicks Wexford Park on Sunday to confirm passage to a fourth Leinster SHC final within the space of five years.

And the 2018 provincial champions are now facing a rematch with Dublin in the decider after the Sky Blues clawed Micheál O’Donoghues crew in Salthill last week.

The Tribesmen appeared in danger of finishing third in the group after Wexford, despite being out of contention, powered thirteen points clear after 24 minutes (3-9 to 0-5) with goals from captain Jack O’Connor, Lee Chin (penalty) and Cillian Byrne.

Galway produced a vital rally to close to within six at the break (3-12 to 0-15), before springing Conor Cooney from the bench on the restart to outclass the home-side subsequently and emerge eight point winners courtesy of goals from Jason Rabbitte and Cooney (penalty).

In baking conditions, the sides shared the first four scores – Lee Chin (free) and Kevin Foley negating a brace of Tom Monaghan scores – before the home-side embarked upon their brightest spell of the campaign.

Indeed, Keith Rossiter’s charges rocked Galway back on their heels as the home-side mined 2-6 without reply between the seventh and eighteenth minutes.

Cian Byrne nudged Wexford in front, and after a rush of scores from Conor Hearne, emerging defender Stephen Martin, Ross Banville and Kevin Foley, the hosts landed the first major blow.

Midfielder Diarmuid O’Leary was denied a goal during the early minutes by a smart intervention from Galway stopper Darach Fahy.

But there was nothing the Ardrahan man could do as Wexford captain Jack O’Connor swooshed home a hand-pass from Conor Hearne on fifteen minutes following a dash from midfield by the latter (1-7 to 0-2).

And Wexford piled on the pressure when Lee Chin rammed home a seventeenth-minute penalty he earned after interference by Joshua Ryan, who was black-carded for his troubles (2-7 to 0-2).

Ross Banville extended the gap to twelve points before Evan Niland – from a free – stemmed the Galway bleed with their first score in fifteen minutes with a 19th minute free.

Galway repaired some of the damage through Niland (two frees), Conor Whelan and Monaghan, while Jason Rabbitte drew a save from Mark Fanning.

But Wexford rammed home their early supremacy when Cillian Byrne flashed to the net from a nifty Chin assist to blow open a 3-9 to 0-7 margin.

Galway, with Joshua Ryan returning, rallied strongly to shave the gap to 3-12 to 0-15 at the interval, Jason Rabbitte and free-taker Niland leading the way with a brace apiece.

Galway swapped Evan Niland for Conor Cooney during the interval, and the St. Thomas’ sharpshooter certainly strengthened their hand with a personal contribution of 1-8 chiefly from placed-balls.

Indeed, he converted a brace of frees as Galway resumed to close to within 3-13 to 0-18 after 40 minutes, although Wexford were denied a certain goal moments later with a priceless deflection after Lee Chin wriggled through from a Conor Hearne set up.

Galway were building a head of attacking steam, and they eventually regained parity after 56 minutes when Jason Rabbitte powered to the net from a Conor Whelan assist (1-23 to 3-17).

And they kept their foot to the floor as three Cooney scores – two frees – and an additional point by Tom Monaghan - arguably the man of the match – launched Galway four clear by the 62nd-minute.

Wexford’s second-half struggles were added to when they lost netminder Fanning to a black-card after preventing Galway sub Brian Concannon from finding the net.

Kevin Foley took over between the posts, but he was helpless to prevent Conor Cooney goaling the resultant penalty as Galway fought back to a solid victory, but with serious question-marks surrounding their limp effort for a vast portion of the opening period.

Scorers for Galway: Conor Cooney 1-8 (0-8fs, 1-0 pen.), Tom Monaghan 0-6, Evan Niland 0-5, Jason Rabbitte 1-2, Conor Whelan 0-3, Tiernan Killeen 0-2, Gavin Lee, Ronan Glennon, Darragh Neary, Daithí Burke (free), John Fleming 0-1 each

Scorers for Wexford: Lee Chin 1-6 (0-4fs, 1-0 pen.), Jack O’Connor, Cillian Byrne 1-1 each, Kevin Foley 0-3, Ross Banville 0-2, Cian Byrne, Conor Hearne, Stephen Martin, Simon Donohoe, Conor Foley, Jack Redmond, James Byrne 0-1

Galway: Darach Fahy; Daithí Burke, Cillian Trayers, Joshua Ryan; Darren Morrissey, Pádraic Mannion, Ronan Glennon; Cian Daniels, Gavin Lee; Conor Whelan, Tiernan Killeen, Darragh Neary; Tom Monaghan, Jason Rabbitte, Evan Niland. Subs: Kieran Hanrahan for Burke, temp. (7-9), Conor Cooney for Niland (HT), Hanrahan for Ryan (50), John Fleming for Killeen (52), Cianan Fahy for Glennon (61), Brian Concannon for Lee (67).

Wexford: Mark Fanning; Stephen Martin, Simon Donohoe, Richie Lawlor; Darragh Carley, Cian Molloy, Niall Murphy; Diarmuid O’Leary, Conor Hearne; Cillian Byrne, Ross Banville, Kevin Foley, Cian Byrne, Lee Chin, Jack O’Connor. Subs: Conor Foley for Lawlor (29), Darragh Kehoe for Martin (57), James Byrne for Banville (60), Jack Redmond for O’Connor (62), Liam Ryan for O’Leary (67).

Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin).