ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION ONE Galway 1-24 Wexford 0-6:A CROWD of only about 600 bothered to turn up at Pearse Stadium in Salthill but they missed little other than one of Wexford's darkest days after they were blown away by a rampant Galway side.
The reigning champions, despite missing several regulars, were far too strong for a Wexford side whose attack made little headway and managed just two points from play over 70 minutes and their goalkeeper scored more than three of their forwards.
This was one of Wexford’s worst displays in modern times as they were steamrolled by an understrength Galway who rarely had to break sweat to prevail.
Manager Colm Bonnar will have his work cut out to lift Wexford after this hammering.
“Disappointing is not the word. We thought that we had done everything right. We trained well, we worked very hard, players had been hugely committed.
“But this result really threw us back. We were not expecting that but that is Division One hurling and they are the champions. We are the Division Two champions and it is a gap that we have to try and close and we have to do it very quickly because there are another six league games to play. . .
“Whether we were beaten by 20 points or 10, it was a case that there is another two points on offer next Sunday so we have to refocus. As down as we are, we can’t dwell long on it because we have to move onto the next game,” added Bonnar.
Galway boss John McIntyre, said he was surprised at how poor the Wexford challenge was. “We anticipated a fairly stern challenge from Wexford.
“They are up in Division One and it has taken them a few years to get there. We thought that they would really be battling from the very first ball today.
“I suppose we got on top early on and they just didn’t perform to the level that they would hope for. It is a bad day for Wexford but I am sure they will regroup. The county has a proud tradition and Colm Bonnar and his management team are working exceptionally hard.
“But I and the Galway management can only look after our own watch. I am delighted that we have two points in the bag and it means that we are going down to Tullamore next Sunday on the front foot.”
The game was over as a contest inside 12 minutes as Galway stormed 0-5 to 0-1 in front. Wexford heads dropped and Galway moved into overdrive with Ger Farragher punishing every foul and landing three 65s in the opening half as Galway led by 0-13 to 0-4 at the break.
Goalkeeper Niall Breen, one of five debutants for Wexford, restricted the scale of the rout with some quality saves but there was only going to be one winner.
Donal Barry hit three points from his new midfield base on a day when eight Tribesmen found the range and the only blight on a successful start to the defence of their crown was first-half injuries to Cyril Donnellan and Joseph Cooney.
Adrian Cullinane set up the hard-working Aonghus Callanan for the game’s only goal which put Galway 1-16 to 0-4 in front after 48 minutes, with Éanna Ryan and Andy Smith also impressing.
GALWAY: C Callanan; D Collins, J Lee, G O'Halloran; A Cullinane (0-1), T Og Regan, G Mahon; D Barry (0-3), D Burke; E Ryan (0-2), C Donnellan, G Farragher (0-11, 0-7 frees, 0-3 65s); A Callanan (1-2), J Cooney, J Coen (0-1). Subs: A Smith (0-1) for Donnellan (7 mins), N Healy (0-3, 0-2 frees) for Cooney (19 mins), D Hayes for Cullinane (57 mins), C O'Donovan for O'Halloran (57 mins), B Murphy for Farragher (62 mins), K Kilkenny for Callanan (62 mins).
WEXFORD: N Breen (0-1, pen); P Roche, M O'Hanlon, B Hobbs; R Kehoe, D Stamp, C Kenny; C Farrell, B Doyle; PJ Nolan (0-1), T Waters, S Banville (0-1); P Atkinson, K Burke, J Berry (0-3, 0-2 frees, 0-1 sideline). Subs: H Kehoe for Burke (35 mins), K Rossiter for R Kehoe (45 mins), G Sinnott for Berry (48 mins), D Redmond for Nolan (54 mins), E Furlong for Farrell (66 mins).
Referee: J McGrath(Westmeath).
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