National Hurling League Division One A/Galway 0-18 Waterford 0-11: Galway proved their aptitude for league hurling in Pearse Stadium once more yesterday with a win made memorable by a perfect performance from goalkeeper Liam Donoghue.
The finalists from last year's league showpiece might well feature later in this year's play-offs but this victory leaves Waterford in absolute need of a win against Clare next week while Galway's programme concludes with a visit to Laois.
In the sides' last three meetings, Galway's forwards stung Waterford for nine goals. In this game, they failed to trouble Waterford's Clinton Hennessey even once, the Waterford goalkeeper's afternoon made seem all the more lonely when contrasted with the acrobatic feats of Donoghue at the other end.
From his third-minute save off John Mullane, who got a clean, hard strike to the high ball played from deep by Dave Bennett, the Clarenbridge man was just in one of those moods. He made light of Eoin Kelly's best efforts to goal, getting his body behind two penalties (after 10 and 38 minutes), reacting brilliantly to a one-on-one situation after 44 minutes and rounding off the day with a spectacular deflection on Séamus Prendergast's bolt from 25 yards.
It was the kind of invincibility Donoghue might prefer to experience in high summer but you take these days whenever they arrive.
About 5,000 people showed up for the first half of a double bill in an overcast Galway. All in all, it was a far cry from Waterford's unstoppable goal rush in the great halls of Munster last summer, with Dan Shanahan a peripheral figure, Mullane largely crowded out and Paul Flynn coming on for a late and quiet cameo. But at least Waterford still created.
"If you got those chances all the time, you would be doing well," sighed Justin McCarthy as he made his way to the Glanbia coach. "A goal or two would have made the difference, it would have changed the course of the game realistically."
That was fair to say. Galway were in hard-working rather than particularly dangerous form here. They began in lightning fashion, the full-forward line landing a point each in just two minutes. But the visitors made them earn their remaining scores, with Ger Farragher dead-eyed with his free opportunities and Tony Óg Regan hitting three fine scores from distance as Galway led 0-11 to 0-6 at the break.
"I was worried at half-time because I felt we needed a goal for that extra cushion," said Conor Hayes. "I felt five points wasn't enough at half-time with that breeze but in fairness, they dug in and played well so I have to be happy."
Even after Mullane delivered a beautiful point - his back to goal, marker breathing down his neck, flush on the sideline - to leave just four points between the teams with 19 minutes left, Galway always found an answer.
Waterford dragged their opponents' full-back line out deep and created those goal chances by hitting long, high ball, which did trouble the back three.
Galway's half-back line was resolute, however, with Liam Hodgins constantly at the coal-face and his wing backs conspicuous. Ollie Canning enjoyed the liberation of the wing but found time to track back and tidy up, while Hardiman also had a fine game, popping up to take a ball from David Collins and land the game-breaking point in the 63rd minute. With Damien Hayes and Kevin Broderick working hard up front and taking scores, Galway played out the last 10 minutes in relative comfort.
Waterford lost Dave Bennett to injury in that period and the team had largely quit on the notion of getting any joy out of the Galway goal. Mullane kept showing for ball but two bad wides in succession underlined the frustration of his afternoon.
Waterford did not help themselves with some erratic shooting from outfield, committing 13 wides in all. Galway lost full back Shane Kavanagh to injury with 11 minutes remaining but Regan just dropped back, Richie Murray entered the scene, and the home team motored along happily.
Waterford had some bright patches, Paul O'Brien testing Fergal Moore early with two fine points and Shanahan briefly touching full flow on half an hour. A booking to Tom Feeney after 20 minutes and the departure of Fergal Hartley at half-time did not help. Michael Walsh and Prendergast made some spirited runs but Waterford were unable to engineer any kind of run on the scoreboard and with Donoghue in superhero mode, it was a fruitless visit to the west.
GALWAY: L Donoghue; D Joyce, S Kavanagh, F Moore; D Hardiman (0-1), L Hodgins, O Canning; D Collins, T Regan (0-3); D Tierney (0-2); D Forde, F Healy; D Hayes (0-4), G Farragher (0-6, 5 frees), K Broderick (0-2). Subs: A Callanan for F Healy (56 mins), R Murray for S Kavanagh inj, (59 mins).
WATERFORD: C Hennessey; T Feeney, F Hartley, D Coffey; B Wall, J Murray, E Murphy; M Walsh, B Phelan; D Shanahan (0-1), E Kelly (0-3, frees), D Bennett (0-3, 2 frees, 65); J Mullane (0-1), S Prendergast, P O'Brien (0-2). Subs: T Browne for Feeney, yellow card (20 mins), E McGrath for Hartley (half-time), P Flynn (0-1 free) for D Shanahan (49 mins), J Kennedy for E Kelly (54 mins), L Lawlor for D Bennett inj, (68 mins).
YELLOW CARDS: Galway: none; Waterford: T Feeney (20 mins).
Referee: P Horan (Offaly).
