Clare 2-21

Galway 2-13

By Michael Dundon at Semple Stadium

A last quarter slump put an end of Galway’s hopes in the All-Ireland minor hurling championship, bowing out to a rampant Clare side by eight points in Sunday’s quarter final at Semple Stadium, Thurles.

After their defeat to Killkenny in the Leinster final, Galway were hoping to get back on track and qualify for the really serious part of the All-Ireland championship,  but despite a promising opening ten minutes when they went 0-7 to 0-2 clear, it was Clare who dominated, particularly in the second half when Galway registered just two scores, and most definitely in the closing quarter

Galway heads were down at the finish as team manager Kenneth Burke reflected: “It is very disappointing. We were in a good position at half-time but we could not get on the ball in the second half. Two scores [in the second half] is just not good enough.”

The manager’s frustration was understandable as a quality opening ten minutes by Galway had Clare on the back foot. Two points from Jack Shaughnessy (frees), two from Gus Lohan, with Ronan Cahalan, Tadhg MacCarthaigh and Cillian Roche also splitting the posts suggested a comfortable Galway victory.

Galway were flying at that stage but Rory Ralph’s goal for Clare in the 13th minute lifted the Banner boys. They then had a brace of Ian O Brien points to level by the end of the first quarter, 1-4 to 0-7.

Clare were now very much in the game. The gain from Galway’s early good work had evaporated and all thoughts of a trouble-free evening for Galway were gone.

Galway didn’t falter at that stage though. They gave as good as they got with scores swapped and they had a strong finish to the first period with Ronan Cahalan netting and Cillian Roche pointing a free en route to an interval lead of 1-12 to 1-11.

A slender advantage certainly, but there was nothing in the first period that hinted at the slump that was to follow later on.

Indeed the second half started well for Galway. A penalty inside 40 seconds after full forward Cillian Roche was pulled down was smartly saved by Clare goalie Leon Talty, but the rebound fell kindly for Tadhg MacCarthaigh who whipped the ball to the Clare net.

Pictured: Galway’s Shay Brady puts pressure on Clare attacker Liam Murphy at Semple Stadium on Sunday.