Hurling Analyst:DAN SHANAHAN gave an emphatic answer to those who questioned whether he could regain his form of 2007 with a 10-minute cameo that effectively won yesterday's second All-Ireland hurling quarter-final at Thurles for Waterford.
He was the architect for Shane Walsh’s goal, unlucky not to score one himself following a brilliant catch and snap shot and was also fouled, which led to Eoin Kelly pointing the resultant free. Galway fullback Eugene McEntee had been pretty much foot-perfect until Shanahan’s arrival, but simply could not handle the Waterford man’s physicality and aerial power.
Waterford managed to isolate Shanahan one-on-one with his marker and it proved a decisive gambit. I’m surprised Galway didn’t try and get their corner backs around McEntee to at least make it more difficult for Shanahan to win clean possession.
At various stages of what was a really entertaining contest, Galway looked like they would kick on and dominate on the scoreboard, reflecting their superiority in general play. They led by six points in the second half and although their opponents managed to whittle the deficit back to two, Galway responded with a brace of points that nudged the advantage out to four again.
But they banked without the resolve and resilience of Waterford in the final throes of the contest. Galway played very well in fits and starts but couldn’t sustain that momentum for long enough periods or more appositely translate that superiority to the scoreboard.
They were guilty of too many misses, Cyril Donnellan, Niall Healy and Joe Canning (from a couple of line balls) failing to register scores from decent opportunities. They played with purpose and method, looking sharp at times but lacked the consistency throughout the 70 minutes that left them vulnerable. The scoring flaws that were apparent against Clare and Cork resurfaced once again; this time fatally.
They needed a greater return from their forwards – Donnellan, Healy and Andy Smith were all replaced – but largely had to rely on Damien Hayes, Canning and to a lesser extent Aengus Callinan. Galway might also reflect on their discipline in defence in terms of conceding too many frees. It permitted Kelly to keep Waterford in touch. John Lee batted down too many balls when he could have caught them and commanded the situations.
Waterford would not have been too dispirited in going in at the interval four points down on the basis that they would have a strong wind at their backs for the second half. Galway though responded positively after the break with the excellent Ger Farragher continuing where he had left off, but gradually the Waterford half back line and midfield began to get on top.
Declan Prendergast, Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh and Shane O’Sullivan become increasingly influential as the half wore on, largely strangling the Galway supply lines. Aidan Kearney acquitted himself very well when switched to fullback; Niall Connors is an outstanding corner back, Kevin Moran did well, so too Stephen Molumphy and Kelly kept them in touch with his free taking.
John Mullane had an off-day with his shooting but his work rate and willingness to fight for frees were an important galvanising factor. He is the team’s talismanic figure and fittingly, his late point proved decisive.
Waterford demonstrated their best form this season in the last 20 minutes and will take that into their All Ireland semi-final with Kilkenny. They’ll be massive underdogs but they may look at the league game in Walsh Park for inspiration. They now have an ideal opportunity to redress last year’s final defeat.
In the afternoon’s first quarter-final at Semple stadium Limerick drew on the experience of having played in Thurles and also being better versed with the demands of competing at this stage of the championship. They didn’t panic on conceding an early goal to Liam Rushe, gradually playing their way back into the match through the outstanding dead-ball accuracy of Gavin O’Mahony.
The Dubs displayed the naivety and mistakes that manager Anthony Daly talked about all year. Stephen Hiney was one of their best players on the day but even he was prone to late errors that cost crucial points. Dublin’s defence looked shaky all afternoon, critically clearing a couple of balls over the sideline, one of which allowed O’Mahony to register a point. Tomás Brady struggled, John McCaffrey never got going at midfield, Alan McCrabbe missed too many frees and Dotsy O’Callaghan and company up front didn’t take enough points, let alone create goal chances.
Limerick believed they would win the match. What must rankle with Dublin is that they were leading with seven or eight minutes to go. They were undone by too many elementary errors. Limerick though drew on the qualities of players like Stephen Lucey, Brian Geary and Seamus Hickey and Andrew O’Shaughnessy. Psychologically this victory will be important to them.
It would be remiss not to mention the general officiating but particularly the standard of umpiring in both matches that was simply not good enough. Players were let down by a litany of clearly incorrect decisions that beggared belief at times. It wouldn’t be acceptable at any level, let alone during All-Ireland hurling quarter-finals.
