Galway 2-26

Down 3-21

THE nerves of the Galway management and supporters must be shot after this latest titanic, high wire struggle up North at a near packed Páirc Esler on Sunday.

“We will have to visit the heart man,” uttered one Galway fan following another action-packed encounter in which the Connacht champions survived a mighty challenge from the Mourne men.

This All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final again proved a ringing endorsement of the new rules as Galway underlined their quality and character with a narrow success over a gallant and much improved Down team in this high-scoring epic.

Ten points clear at half-time after being backed by the wind, the Tribesman had to endure another white-knuckle ride on a day Matthew Thompson confirmed his status as one of the rising stars of the game.

The Salthill man was in inspired form, scoring five points, but he was also at the heart of several other scores in an attack where clubmate Rob Finnerty continued his vintage championship form. He has now scored a whopping 3-37 in seven matches.

And the city club will also be celebrating the big contributions off the bench from two other Salthill men – Daniel O’Flaherty picked off a brace of late points, while Tomo Culhane smashed home the match-clinching goal.

Once again, Galway got a big return from their substitutes in an end-to-end contest which produced no shortage of drama and quality finishing as evidenced by the Connacht champions registering just a solitary wide.

As we have seen several times this summer, Galway showed their capacity to respond when the opposition does something big. A pacey Down outfit tested them all the way, asking serious questions, but Galway still found a way to come out on top.

Ultimately, a blitz of points approaching half-time proved critical to Galway securing their place in the last eight. They had a strong wind but were only 1-7 to 1-6 ahead after 27 minutes and the big home crowd were roaring on Down.

Suddenly, Galway cut loose just when they needed to. They hit nine unanswered points – Thomspon and Shane Walsh delivered three rousing two-pointers between them as well as raising white flags, along with Finnerty, to retire 1-16 to 1-6 ahead at the interval.

It was breathless stuff but the action in the second half if anything went up another notch. Imagine Down scored 2-15 over the closing 35 minutes and were still beaten. Yet, the way they carved open the Gaway cover at times must be a source of concern to Padraic Joyce and his management.

Down captain Odhran Murdock proved a handful all day. He was outstanding and with goalkeeper Ronan Burns, Peter Fegan, Ryan Magill, Daniel Guinness (second half), Danny Magill, John McGeough and substitute Caolan Murray all having some big moments, they put Galway to the pin of their collar.

Pictured: Galway’s John Maher tries to halt the progress of Down’s Pierce Laverty during Sunday’s All-Ireland Preliminary Senior Football quarter-final in Newry. Photos: Ben McShane/Sportsfile.