Sport

Canning gets Galway back on track

NHL DIVISION ONE Galway 1-14 Limerick 1-12 GALWAY GOT their league campaign back on track as Joe Canning marked his return to…

Mon Mar 23 2009 - 00:00

NHL DIVISION ONE Galway 1-14 Limerick 1-12GALWAY GOT their league campaign back on track as Joe Canning marked his return to the side with two late points to secure victory at Pearse Stadium.

Limerick seemed poised to salvage something from a poor game when a goal from a 21-yard free by Niall Moran levelled the match after they were six points adrift at half-time and going into the final quarter.

But Canning had the composure to rescue Galway, first landing a 35-yard free from the right to put the Tribesmen back in front and then he sealed the win with another free from halfway.

Limerick never led during a dour contest and early points from Galway’s Joe Gantley and David Tierney were cancelled by Niall Moran who went on to score 1-7 for Justin McCarthy’s men.

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When Limerick goalkeeper Brian Murray fumbled a long delivery from Adrian Cullinane, Canning pounced, along with Fergal Healy, to bundle the ball over the line. Aonghus Callanan quickly added a point and it looked as if Galway would be out of sight by the interval as they led by 1-9 to 0-3.

But Limerick rallied in the closing stages of the half and points from Breen, James O’Brien and Donal O’Grady gave them hope at the break

An exchange of points between Moran and Canning were the only scores of the third quarter as Galway lost Joe Gantley and Fergal Moore to yellow cards. Two pointed frees going into the final quarter from Moran finally got Limerick moving and he then landed a superb effort from play after Pat Tobin had also found the range and suddenly there were just two points between the sides with 12 minutes remaining.

Aonghus Callanan got Galway’s only score from play when he struck his third point of the match, but Limerick hit back with Donal O’Grady pointing from the left wing. Canning hit another free to restore his side’s three-point lead, but then Donie Ryan was fouled and Moran blasted the resultant 21-yard free to the net to level the match, only for Canning to seize it for Galway.

GALWAY:C Callanan; D Joyce, E McEntee, F Moore; R Murray, M Ryan, A Cullinane; G Farragher, D Tierney (0-1); J Gantley (0-1), C Donnellan (0-1), A Callanan (0-3); N Healy, J Canning (1-8, 0-6 frees, 0-1 sideline), F Healy. Subs:E Ward for C Callanan (inj 10 mins), K Hooban for Gantley (yellow card, 43 mins), G Mahon for Moore (yellow card, 47 mins), P Kililea for F Healy (65 mins).

LIMERICK:B Murray; D Reale, S Lucey, S Walsh; S Hickey, B Geary, G O'Mahony; D O'Grady (0-2), P Browne; J O'Brien (0-1), M O'Brien, N Moran (1-7, 1-6 frees); A O'Shaughnessy, D Breen (0-1), P Tobin (0-1). Subs:G Mulcahy for O'Brien (52 mins), D Ryan for O'Shaughnessy (57 mins), W McNamara for J O'Brien (68 mins).

Referee: S McMahon (Clare).