Galway claimed their third win of NHL Division 1A as their two-man full forward line of Eugene Cloonan and Damien Hayes ruled Walsh Park in a 5-13 to 1-14 win over league leaders Waterford.
Cloonan bagged two early goals, the first on 9 minutes and the second nine minutes later. Rory Gantley pointed on 22 minutes to put Galway into a 2-06 to 0-05 lead against the league leaders, with only Dan Shanahan firing well for the hosts.
Cloonan ended the half with 2-05 as a wind-backed Galway closed out to a 2-10 to 0-6 half-time lead as Alan Kerins (0-2), Gantley, Damien Hayes and David Forde completed the scoring.
Dave Bennett hit over a ’65 fifty seconds after the restart but two minutes later Damien Hayes blasted to the Waterford net. On the hour mark Hayes netted again to increase Galway's score to 4-12.
Waterford rallied late with a Paul Flynn goal, but it was to be Cloonan (who bagged 3-07 in total) and Hayes’ day they shot their side to victory against the Division 1A leaders.
Filed by Barry J Whyte
