Galway beginning to look the part

Galway 2-24 Limerick 1-16RARELY HAS Ger Loughnane sounded more unpretentiously confident, at least not since the good old days at Clare, than after this emphatic win over Limerick on their own turf. It's still too soon to say he is the man to lead Galway hurling back to the summit but he's clearly starting to believe it himself.

In the end Galway's 11-point victory was enough to see them top Division One B and head straight to the semi-finals, and collect a three-week break along the way. Tipperary finished level with Galway on points but with the inferior scoring difference.

For Loughnane, making the semi-finals was the main purpose of coming to the Gaelic Grounds, yet he got that and more. It was Galway's most complete performance of the league so far, controlled and dominant throughout, and their two goals from Kerril Wade and Iarla Tannian epitomised the winning spirit suddenly written all over the team.

"That was the goal," admitted Loughnane, "the huge goal. That gives us three weeks now until the semi-final. In that time we'll get players back like Fergal Moore, Alan Kerins, and the Portumna lads. We'll have all those in contention for a place in the semi-final, and that should make for our strongest possible team.

"The quality of players is there in Galway, and the skill level, and when you put spirit along with that you have to be in contention with all of the big teams. You couldn't ask for things to be going better than they are, but of course the big tests are to come yet."

When those Portumna players do return, fresh from their All-Ireland club title last Monday, Galway will look particularly menacing. Loughnane confirmed Joe Canning was one of the six Portumna players invited to join up with the panel next weekend, although his brother Ollie was still reconsidering his future.

"Ollie will take more time, he added. "He's taking some time, because it is a very bid decision for him, a big chance to take. He has a lot to weigh up, but we'll see. But Kevin Hayes, Damien Hayes, Eoin Lynch, Andy Smith and Joe Canning are all coming back next week."

It will almost create an embarrassment of riches. Joe Canning is without doubt one of the best free-takers in the country, but so too is Ger Farragher who hit 0-11 on this occasion - including one whopper from some 120 yards out - and two gems from play.

Fergal Healy was orchestrating much of the forward play with both grace and authority, and with corner back Conor Dervan also chipping in a point, Galway were never far from a score. They kept the scoreboard ticking over with quite stunning regularity, and Limerick just couldn't stay with the pace. They went four points clear midway through the first half and led 0-13 to 0-7 at the break, with Limerick reliant on Kevin and Pat Tobin to keep them in touch.

However, Galway hit six quick points without replay in the first 10 minutes of the second half to kill off their rivals' challenge. Niall Moran offered Limerick a brief respite but Galway's first real hunt for a goal saw the ball moved brilliantly from Aongus Callanan to Niall Healy and then to Wade, who made no mistake with the finish.

Limerick were suddenly looking out of their depth. Manager Richie Bennis was forced to start without five first-choice players, most noticeably Andrew O'Shaughnessy and Mark Foley, with Brian Geary still out injured. However, Bennis can't have been pleased with that gap left by their absence. Limerick's attack was particularly poor, with Brian Begley struggling and Ollie Moran lacking his usual edge.

"The way Galway play, they like open spaces," said Bennis, "and we helped create those open spaces for them and they certainly exploited them. . . We conceded some silly frees as well, but we'll work on it. We were here before, and we'll think positive and move on."

Galway's dominance never let up. Tannian's goal on 62 minutes, set up by Kevin Hynes, was equally unstoppable, and left them 2-23 to 0-13 in front. Limerick managed a consolation goal from substitute Alan O'Connor who touched home Mike O'Brien's searching ball, but that did little to disguise the comprehensiveness of their defeat.

Galway substitute Seán Glynn got a straight red card at the end for an off-the-ball foul on Séamus Hickey, but that was the only blip on the visitors' afternoon. They could have added further goals were it not for Limerick goalkeeper Dave Bulfin, who made several fine stops from close range.

"Galway have always needed to do well in the league," added Loughnane. "The league has gone well for us, but what I've learnt most of all is that there is terrific spirit in there, and a great belief that no matter how bad things are going we can still turn it around.

"Even at half-time there when Limerick were coming back into the game, there was no panic. Everybody just couldn't wait to get back out again to do themselves justice. I wanted them to get the first three or four scores of the second half, and they got the first five. With really quality hurling."

GALWAY:J Skehill; C Dervan (0-1),T Óg Regan, S Kavanagh; A Cullinane, J Lee, G Mahon; K Hynes (0-1),R Murray; G Farragher (0-11, nine frees), F Healy (0-4),A Callanan; K Wade (1-2), I Tannian (1-3), N Healy (0-1). Subs: D Forde (0-1)for Murray (32 mins), A Gaynor for Kavanagh (53 mins), S Glynn for Kavanagh (53 mins), J Greene for Tannian (68 mins).

LIMERICK:D Bulfin; D Reale, S Lucey, S Hickey; M O'Riordan, P O'Dwyer, D Cosgrave; D O'Grady (0-3), P Lawlor; N Moran (0-1),O Moran, K Tobin (0-5, all frees); P Tobin (0-2), B Begley, D Ryan (0-2). Subs: M O'Brien (0-1)for Lawlor (35 mins), W McNamara for P Tobin (48 mins), G O'Mahony for O'Riordan (50 mins), B Foley (0-1)for O Moran (53 mins), A O'Connor (1-1, free)for K Tobin (56 mins).

Referee: B Kelly(Westmeath).