Galway 0-20 Cork 2-17
Two goals from Paudie O’Sullivan helped Cork claim a priceless hurling league victory over Galway at Pearse Stadium on a 2-17 to 0-20 scoreline.
The Rebels led 1-10 to 0-10 at the break despite playing against a stiff breeze in the first-half.
O’Sullivan’s first goal was crucial when it came in the 19th minute and the four points from Pat Horgan insured they stayed in the ascendency.
The onslaught came from Galway in the third quarter, but O’Sullivan’s second goal was key and Jason Flynn had a late goal disallowed.
Cork dominated the first-half and got off the mark when midfielder Aidan Walsh slotted a point in the fourth minute after Seamus Harnedy provided the pass.
Brian Lawton and Pat Horgan added two more before Joe Canning’s superbly struck sideline sailed through the Cork uprights to open Galway’s account.
Harnedy then got his first score of the afternoon but Galway hit four of the next five, as Cathal Mannion, Joseph Cooney (two) and Canning brought them back level at 0-05 to 0-05 with 13 minutes played.
Cork then had their own purple patch and made the most of it; Horgan, Conor Lehane and Daniel Kearney got points while O’Sullivan’s first goal in the 19th minute put them in charge.
Two points from Cathal Mannion steadied things for the Tribesmen but they were unable to make a real dent into the lead as a point from O’Sullivan meant Cork led by five.
Jason Flynn (two frees) and Canning hit back before Horgan’s fourth point of the day gave Cork a 1-10 to 0-10 lead.
The teams traded scores before Aidan Harte was introduced for Iarla Tannian in the 43rd minute and within four minutes of coming in, he had claimed two massive scores to bring Galway within a point.
Lehane hit another for Cork but Flynn, Harte, Cooney and Dean Higgins all pointed as Galway went into a 0-18 to 1-13 lead.
Lehane stopped the rot and the decisive score followed from another Galway mistake.
Greg Lally over-cooked a hand-pass that Horgan latched onto before setting up the lethal O’Sullivan who goaled to give Cork a 2-14 to 0-18 lead with five minutes remaining.
Horgan and Flynn swapped point but Horgan’s eighth and Rob O’Shea’s late point looked to have clinched it only for Galway to rally and Flynn saw his goal disallowed for a square-ball.
Cork: A Nash; W Kearney, S McDonnell, S O’Neill; L McLoughlin, M Ellis, C Murphy; D Kearney (0-01), A Walsh (0-01); S Harnedy (0-01) P Horgan (0-08, 0-02f, 0-03 '65), B Lawton (0-01); P O’Sullivan (2-01), C Lehane (0-03), S Moylan.
Subs: L O'Farrell for Moylan (51), A Cadogan for Lawton (51), R O'Shea (0-01) for Walsh (61), J Coughlan for Harnedy (70).
Galway: C Callanan; P Mannion, J Hanbury, J Coen; G McInerney, G Lally, D Collins; I Tannian, A Smith; J Cooney (0-03), J Canning (0-04, 0-01sl), J Flynn (0-05, 0-04f); C Mannion (0-04), J Glynn, J Regan.
Subs: P Brehony for Regan (27), D Higgins (0-01) for Brehony (35), A Harte (0-03) for Tannian (43), K Hynes for C Mannion (67).
Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary)
