NFL Division 1A: Galway 0-7 Tyrone 1-13
PETER Canavan produced another wonderful performance to condemn All-Ireland champions Galway to a third successive defeat at Tuam, and suddenly Danny Ball’s men, without a pre-Christmas win, are beginning to look like genuine play-off material.
A thumping nine points win by a rejuvenated Red Hand side provided a real tonic for the big contingent of travelling fans, but most pleasing of all was the manner of this victory.
Canavan may have been the central character with six precious points and a vast repertoire of wizardry, but the teamwork, industry and spirit displayed by Tyrone was the important element in a most encouraging display.
Galway were totally outclassed throughout.
Canavan recovered from the disappointment of a missed penalty after just four minutes to emerge as the tormentor of the home defence throughout the opening period.
The former Allstar scored all four of his side’s first half points, and majestically created Mattie McGleenan’s ninth minute goal.
It was Canavan’s mazy run along the left wing, and perceptive cutback pass, which set up McGleenan’s thundering finish past Galway’s new keeper Lloyd Kelly to open up a three points lead. “It was a great pass from Peter,” McGleenan said later. “When I saw him cutting in along the endline I knew what he would do, so I just stepped out a bit, and he provided the perfect pass.”
Galway: L Kelly, R Doyle, G Fahy, R Fahy, R Silke, J Divilly, S Og de Paor, D Mitchell, S O Domhnaill, P Clancy (0-3), J Fallon (0-1), M Donnellan, D Savage (0-1), N Finnegan (0-2), T Joyce
Sub: M Colleran for Joyce.
Tyrone: F McConnell, P Devlin, C Lawn, P McGurk, C Holmes, S McCallan, C Gourley, Pascal Canavan, C McBride, G Cavlan (0-1), E Gormley (0-1), C Loughran (0-1), A Cush (0-4), M McGleenan (1-0), Peter Canavan (0-6)
Subs: F Devlin for Gourley. Ref: A Mangan (Kerry). SPORT
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AIB All-Ireland Club Hurling Championship semi-final: Ballygalget (Down) 1-8 Rathnure (Wexford) 2-19
PAUL Codd exhibited master-marksmanship class, scoring 14 times from only 17 attempts, to emphatically settle yesterday’s issue.
One of the rising stars of Wexford hurling, and not long back from a serious injury, Codd reeled the points from near and far, from frees, play and once from a stunning sideline cut.
That was in the first half only.
Rathnure reached their sixth All-Ireland final on the back of the young forward’s sparkling display of dead-eye finishing.
Codd opened the scoring on 30 seconds, punishing the first of five first half frees to come his way.
Ballygalget: G Clarke, L Clarke, K Coulter, P Braniff, M Coulter Snr (0-1), M Pucci, L Coulter, P Coulter, P Monan (0-1), B Smith, B Coulter, B Gallagher, M Coulter Jnr (1-2), J McGrattan (0-3), Philbin Savage
Subs: Patrick Savage (0-1) for Gallagher (24), B Savage for P Savage (53)
Rathnure: J Morrisey, S Somers, J Conran, D Guiney, L Somers, J Mooney, R Guiney, M Redmond, N Higgins, A Codd (1- 1), M Byrne, P Codd (0-14, 7 from frees), M Morrissey, C Byrne (0-1), B O’Leary (1-3)
Subs: J Holohan for M Byrne (54), J Codd for C Byrne (58)
Ref: J McDonnell (Tipperary)
Attendance: 4,000
Man of the Match: Paul Codd.
