Two goals for Flynn as Galway prove too strong for Westmeath

Galway 4-31, Westmeath 0-12

By Gerry Buckley

As expected, a near full-strength Galway side had a very comfortable win against an understrength Westmeath outfit in a low-key National Hurling League Division 1B opener, played in front of a small crowd in Salthill last Saturday afternoon.

Galway, wearing a largely navy jersey used to commemorate their first Liam MacCarthy Cup win in 1923, fielded a plethora of household names, with a power-packed bench thrown in for good measure. They ended the game with 12 different scorers. Conversely, it has been well documented that Joe Fortune is short a range of top players this year for a variety of reasons. Accordingly, a bad beating was always somewhat inevitable, and it would have been much worse but for the brilliance of Noel Conaty between the sticks for the visitors.

After the game, the losing bainisteoir was at pains to emphasise that some newcomers were the future of Westmeath hurling and expressed the hope that Lake County Gaels would encourage, rather than criticize, these young men in maroon and white with a number of very difficult assignments on the way, none more so than one of the all-time great teams coming to Mulingar next Sunday in the shape of John Kiely’s all-conquering Limerick side.

Galway had the aid of the wind blowing from the scoreboard end of the ground in the first half. Ironically, Westmeath started quite well with Darragh Clinton underhitting a very scoreable point opportunity before David Williams slotted over a third-minute free after Owen McCabe had been fouled. However, seven different home players (Jason Flynn, Declan McLoughlin, Cianan Fahy, Donal O’Shea, Evan Niland from a free, Gavin Lee, and Tom Monaghan) pointed by the 13th minute, with Westmeath only finding the target twice in the same period, both from the stick of Williams – the first of them from a free. Already, Conaty had been called into action with a fine save from Daithí Burke in the 12th minute.

Niall Mitchell, sweeping to good effect, fired over a great point in the 17th minute, but the Tribesmen proceeded to score seven points without reply by the 29th minute, courtesy of Niland (five, including three frees), Monaghan, and McLoughlin. The latter’s score was superbly deflected over the bar by Conaty, who had pulled off a great save with his foot from the same player three minutes earlier. A classy point from Clinton and a Williams free then broke the monotony. O’Shea doubled his tally in the 33rd minute. Conaty soon produced another moment of magic to keep out a Flynn penalty, after the same player had been fouled. However, Galway still led by 0-15 to 0-6 at the interval.

At the start of the second moiety, Niland pointed two placed balls – a ‘65’ after Conaty had denied half-time sub Jamie Ryan, and a free – and Lee added a great angled point. The inevitable first goal duly arrived in the 45th minute, Flynn getting a deft close-range touch to an O’Shea delivery. Williams slotted over a free at the other end, but Henry Shefflin’s charges quickly tagged on another 1-6 without reply. The goal was scored by Fahy in 54th minute (after Flynn’s initial attempt had been blocked), while the points were shared between John Cooney, Niland (three, including one free), Lee, and Ryan.

Williams converted a 57th-minute free, but the home team instantly responded with a point from sub Darren Morrissey and a goal from Flynn (when teed up by sub Conor Whelan). A Williams free and a well-worked score finished by impressive sub David O’Reilly followed from the men in the changed green and maroon jerseys.

However, Galway were in no mood for mercy and they scored 1-4 without reply by the 69th minute. Whelan superbly raised the green flag, with Monaghan (two), Flynn (a free, with Niland by now withdrawn), and Lee getting the points.

The sides equally shared four points in the closing stages – subs Mark Cunningham and O’Reilly for the losers, and Ronan Glennon and Monaghan for their opponents. There was still time for Conaty to come to his side’s rescue once more, this time from Ryan.

Scorers- Galway: E Niland 0-11 (6f, 1‘65’), J Flynn 2-2 (0-1f), T Monaghan 0-5, C Fahy 1-1, G Lee 0-4, C Whelan 1-0, D McLoughlin, D O'Shea 0-2 each, J Cooney, D Morrisey, J Ryan, R Glennon 0-1 each. Westmeath: D Williams 0-7 (6f), D O'Reilly 0-2, M Cunningham, D Clinton, N Mitchell 0-1 each.

Galway: Darach Fahy; Jack Grealish, TJ Brennan, Eoin Lawless; Cianan Fahy, Daithí Burke, Padraic Mannion; Donal O’Shea, Sean Linnane; Gavin Lee, Tom Monaghan, John Cooney; Evan Niland, Jason Flynn, Declan McLoughlin. Subs used: Jamie Ryan for McLoughlin (h-t), Ronan Glennon for Linnane (49), Darren Morrisey for Burke (50), Conor Whelan for Cooney (54), Ian McGlynn for Niland (inj., 59), Dan Loftus for Lawless (64).

Westmeath: Noel Conaty; Connor Gaffney, Johnny Bermingham, Darragh Egerton; Jack Gillen, Kevin Regan, Cormac Boyle; Shane McGovern, Michael Daly; Owen McCabe, Darragh Clinton, Niall Mitchell; David Williams, Eoin Keyes, Peter Clarke. Subs used: David O’Reilly for Keyes (46), Mark Cunningham for Daly (53), Joey Boyle for Bermingham (inj., 60), Ciaran Doyle for Clarke (66), Oisín Loughlin for McGovern (66).

Ref: Sean Stack (Dublin).

Man of the match: Evan Niland (Galway). Daft as it may seem after a 31-point hammering, but a strong case could be made for Westmeath’s truly heroic goalkeeper Noel Conaty. However, the elegant Padraic Mannion in defence, and several of the winners’ forwards were outstanding, none more so than deadly accurate freetaker Niland.

Key moment: None, as from an early stage it was obvious that a near full-strength home side would win with a good bit to spare.

Stats watch: Wides - Galway 4 (first half, 2); Westmeath 6 (2). ‘65’s - Galway 1 (0); Westmeath 0 (0).

Talking point: As ever, the gulf in class between the sides – while again stressing that the visitors were short many of the county’s best stickmen – had locals bemoaning the lack of a serious challenge with tougher assignments to follow.

Next up: It gets even harder for Westmeath with Limerick the visitors to TEG Cusack Park next Sunday. Galway will travel to Thurles on the same day to face Tipperary.