Gaelic Games

Galway demolish depleted Clare to leave Salthill on a high

Micheál Donoghue’s charges led by 10-points at the break

Clare's David Reidy in action against Galway's Cianan Fahy. Photograph: James Lawlor/Inpho
Clare's David Reidy in action against Galway's Cianan Fahy. Photograph: James Lawlor/Inpho
Kevin Fallon
Sat Feb 08 2025 - 21:53
NHL Division 1A: Galway 2-21 Clare 0-20

Galway laid the foundation for a deserved win over a depleted Clare side at Pearse Stadium with a strong opening half performance which saw them build up a 10-point lead by the interval.

It’s a second win in three league games for Micheál Donoghue’s side and while Clare outscored them by three points in the second half, a comeback never looked likely from the reigning All-Ireland and League champions.

Galway wore black armbands and there was a minute’s silence before the game in memory of former Galway All Star and All-Ireland winner Michael Coleman who died in an accident on Friday night.

Clare, with just four of the team that started last year’s All-Ireland final, started well and opened up a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after just five minutes. One of those survivors, Aidan McCarthy, shot three points in a row after Ryan Taylor got the Banner County off the mark.

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But Galway, fielding a much more experienced side despite making six changes from their win over Kilkenny last weekend, worked the ball well up front despite the scruffy surface.

Anthony Burns, starting his first league game for the Tribesmen, brought his superb form from Loughrea’s county title win to a new level, and by the break had collected 2-2 from play, to which he added another point in the second half.

The accuracy of Evan Niland, who landed 0-7 in the opening half, kept Galway in touch but Clare maintained their slender lead with Taylor getting a second point, Cian Galvin scoring from distance and Patrick Crotty taking a brace as McCarthy took his opening-half haul to 0-6.

Galway finally pulled level after 21 minutes through superb points off either wing by Burns and captain Conor Whelan to bring the match to 0-9 apiece.

Tony Kelly was called into action for Clare during the second half at Pearse Stadium. Photograph: James Lawlor/Inpho
Tony Kelly was called into action for Clare during the second half at Pearse Stadium. Photograph: James Lawlor/Inpho

Clare goalkeeper Eamonn Foudy produced a second good save to deny Whelan before Niland put Galway ahead with a 65 after 23 minutes.

Burns hit the net for the first time a minute later before McCarthy and Daniel Loftus exchanged points to make it 1-11 to 0-10 nine minutes from the break.

Galway, who lost experienced full-back Daithi Burke to a leg injury after 12 minutes, finished the half strongly. Whelan set up Burns for his second goal and with Darren Morrissey becoming their second corner-back to score, they led by 2-15 to 0-11 at the interval, Tom Monaghan having claimed his second point.

Clare outscored Galway 0-4 to 0-2 in the opening 15 minutes of the second half, David Reidy getting a couple of points for the Banner and Jack O’Neill and McCarthy also scoring in response to frees from Niland.

Galway had chances to extend their lead but shot four wides before the All-Ireland champions drafted in Aron Shanagher and Tony Kelly, who immediately added more potency to their attack.

A free and one from play from McCarthy reduced the margin to 2-18 to 0-17 with 13 minutes remaining but their gallop was halted when Padraic Mannion landed a fine point from distance, Jason Flynn pointed a free, and Sean Linnane became the ninth player to score two minutes from the end, adding a point to Galway’s tally.

Galway finished with 13 wides, 10 coming in the second half, but with several experienced players due back they will hope to push on in their three remaining league games, all of which are away from home.

GALWAY: D Fahy; D Loftus (0-1), D Burke, D Morrissey (0-1); P Mannion (0-1), G Lee, C Trayers; C Fahy, T Monaghan (0-2); J Fleming, T Killeen, B Concannon; E Niland (0-9; 0-7f, 0-1 ’65), C Whelan (0-2), A Burns (2-3). Subs: F Burke for Daithi Burke (12 mins), J Flynn (0-1f) for Niland (46), K Cooney for Concannon (46), S Linnane (0-1) for Fleming (53), E Lawless for Trayers (65).

CLARE: E Foudy; I McNamara, J O’Neill (0-1), A Hogan; D Lohan, R Hayes, C Galvin (0-1); R Taylor (0-2), P Donnellan; P Crotty (0-2), C Malone, S Rynne; K Smyth, D Reidy (0-2), A McCarthy (0-11; 0-8f). Subs: R Hayes for Lohan (35 mins), A Shanagher for Smyth (49), C O’Meara for Rynne (53), T Kelly (0-1) for Donnellan (55), D Conroy for Malone (60).

Referee: M Kennedy (Tipperary).