Cork 2-22 Galway 0-25
Goals from Cork’s Seamus Harnedy and Patrick Horgan in the last nine minutes sent Galway down to Division 1B after an exciting top-flight relegation play-off at Pearse Stadium.
After they weathered a bright Cork start, Galway looked to be in control as 13 points from Joe Canning saw them lead by three points with 13 minutes remaining, but the double strike means Cork secured their Division 1A status for 2017.
Facing second-flight hurling next season is a cruel punishment for Michéal Donoghue’s side who had claimed a win and two draws from their five round robin matches, while five defeats has marred Cork’s campaign until this play-off win.
In the opening action Cork looked like the side that was in-from as nine points from play saw them led 0-09 to 0-04 by the 12th minute. All of those points came from play as Alan Cadogan, Brian Lawton, Daniel Kearney and the outstanding Conor Lehane all benefited from some slack defending from the home side,
Canning was in super touch from placed balls as displayed by his fifth minute sideline cut for his second score of the game, while Galway needed a point from Andy Smith in the tenth minute to interrupt a six-point scoring streak from the rampant Cork men.
But Galway finished the first-half as the stronger team and were full deserving to only trail by 0-14 to 0-13 at the interval. Points from half-backs David Burke and Aidan Harte – who left the action shortly after after a heavy bang – as well as good scores from Conor Whelan and Niall Burke meant Galway trailed by the minimum at the break.
Lehane soon got Cork rolling after half-time with a super solo effort – he left Smith for dead with a brilliant flick over his head – but Galway levelled matters by the 38thminute when Cathal Mannion and Canning landed good scores.
Horgan had been well marshalled by Paul Hoban and Adrian Tuohy for the most part, but he soon began to influence the game and his two points in as many minutes had Cork ahead again.
But Galway took the lead for the first time in the 46th minute when two Canning frees and a point from sub Iarla Tannian made it 0-18 to 0-17.
After a couple of Cork scores, another streak of three points from Galway had them in a commanding position in the 60th minute as they led by 0-23 to 0-20, but their challenge was hit with a double blow in the closing stages.
Harnedy’s mis-hit shot travelled through a crowd of players and found the bottom corner of James Skehill’s net with nine minutes remaining to square the game, and after Lehane’s point soon after, Horgan flashed a first-time strike past Skehill for the winning goal in the 65th minute.
It was cruel for the Tribesmen, but Cork ended up deserving winners.
Cork: A Nash; D Cahalane, S McDonnell, C O’Sullivan; C Murphy, C Joyce, L McLoughlin; W Egan (0-01), D Kearney (0-02); B Lawton (0-02), C Lehane (0-06), B Cooper (0-01); A Cadogan (0-03), S Harnedy (1-00), P Horgan (1-07, 0-03f).
Subs: J Cronin for Cadogan (58 mins), W Leahy for Lawton (66 mins), K Burke for Kearney (71 mins).
Galway: J Skehill; D Collins, J Hanbury, P Hoban; A Tuohy, D Burke (c) (0-01), A Harte (0-01); D Glennon, P Brehony (0-01); A Smith (0-01), J Canning (0-13, 0-11f, 0-01’sl, 0-01’65), N Burke (0-03); C Whelan (0-01), C Mannion (0-03), J Flynn.
Subs: I Tannian (0-01) for Harte (17-22 blood & 28 mins), K Hussey for Hoban (35 mins), C Donnellan for Flynn (62 mins).
Referee: James McGrath (Westmeath).
