Galway 1-24 Cork 1-21: Galway's grip on the National Hurling League title slipped from their grasp despite this confidence-boosting victory over All-Ireland champions Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday.
The holders needed a massive winning margin over their hosts to give them any chance of making the final for the second consecutive season, though, as it turned out, it wouldn't have made any difference as both Clare and Kilkenny won their games.
For Cork, it was a repeat of last year's league performance - losing all three games in phase two - though that is unlikely to trouble coach John Allen, who has maintained the Munster championship outing with Waterford in a month is the main priority.
Cork made four changes from their selected team. John Browne and Kevin Hartnett replaced Cian O'Connor and Peter Kelly, respectively, in defence. In attack Neil Ronan took over from Kieran Murphy of Erin's Own and Eamonn Collins replaced Brian Corcoran at full forward.
Galway's only change saw David Hardiman in at full back for Liam Hodgins.
Despite the high scoring, a crowd of around 3,000 witnessed a game which had more of a challenge match intensity about it than a full-blooded encounter.
Scores flowed freely at either end. Tony Óg Regan and David Collins looked promising at midfield for Galway in the opening exchanges while Joe Deane appeared the biggest threat to their defence.
It was Deane who pounced for the opening goal after 14 minutes. John Gardiner delivered a high, probing ball towards the visitors goalmouth where Deane tapped home to give Cork a 1-3 to 0-4 lead.
Galway's fortunes were boosted by a magnificent sideline cut from the impressive Ritchie Murray a couple of minutes later. His sublime effort found the distance from all of 40 metres on the uncovered stand side of the ground.
The teams continued to exchange points before Galway pounced for their goal five minutes before the interval. Damien Hayes supplied the telling pass for Murray, who beat Donal Óg Cusack between the Cork posts.
The home side led by 1-12 to 1-11 at the interval and the trend continued on the resumption as the teams exchanged points. Eugene Cloonan's expertise from frees kept Galway in contention while Deane was again proving a real thorn in the visitors' defence.
The burden didn't rest solely on Cloonan's shoulders as has been the case in the past. Others such as Alan Kerins, Damien Hayes, Murray and the midfield pairing of Regan and Collins contributed generously.
The crucial period came in the final quarter when Galway scored three points without reply, Murray from play and two more from Cloonan frees.
GALWAY: L O'Donoghue; D Joyce, D Hardiman, C Coen; David Hayes, S Kavanagh, O Canning; D Collins (0-2), T Óg Regan (0-3); R Murray (1-4, 0-2 sideline), E Cloonan (0-7, five frees), A Callanan; Damien Hayes (0-3), K Hayes (0-2), A Kerins (0-3). Subs: A Smith for Callanan (55 mins), F Healy for Joyce (63 mins), D Forde for K Hayes (64 mins).
Cork: D Óg Cusack; B Murphy, D O'Sullivan, J Browne; K Hartnett, J Gardiner (0-2), S Óg Ó hAilpín; T Kenny, J O'Connor (0-1); B O'Connor (0-2), N McCarthy (0-2), N Ronan (0-2); Kieran Murphy (Sarsfields, 0-1), E Collins (0-1), J Deane (1-10, five frees). Subs: R McGregor for Hartnett (52 mins), Kieran Murphy (Erin's Own) for Murphy (60 mins), C O'Connor for Browne (62 mins).
Referee: B Gavin (Offaly).
