ALL-IRELAND SHC QUALIFIERS ROUND THREE/Galway 1-19 Cork 0-15:John McIntyre hailed his side's "sheer heart and conviction" as they atoned for last year's defeat by knocking Cork out of the championship and claim a spot in the quarter-finals with a deserved seven-point victory at Semple Stadium last night.
Enjoying a slender one-point advantage at the break, the Tribesmen pulled away in the end with Joe Gantley’s 63rd-minute goal proving the decisive score.
McIntyre pointed to the team effort and told his players to stay patient at half-time after some wasteful shooting in the opening 35.
“It didn’t look great for us at half-time when we were only up a point with a reasonably strong wind out there. But we drove home the message to them that they were capable of doing better in the second half.
“And while the commitment was there we didn’t use the ball that well in the first half and we had some bad wides. If it came down to the last 10 minutes and we were still standing and had a chance of winning it, then our superior fitness, given Cork’s problems earlier in the year, might carry us over the line,” he said.
“I’m thrilled for the players; I’m thrilled for the back-room team. Everybody’s worked so hard. Galway victories over Cork are precious and very rare. It’s a big, big win for Galway and Cork threw everything at us,” added McIntyre, who must now get his side ready for a quarter-final clash with Waterford next weekend.
Joe Canning was again the star attraction, with ten points, but in praising him, McIntyre also hailed the all-round effort that was so lacking in last year’s defeat to the Rebels.
“Joe Canning again came up trumps with his accurate free-taking, but you’ve got to give credit to the lads that were getting fouled out the field. It was a tremendous team effort tonight, they didn’t flinch, and maybe in the past Galway teams in a similar position have been found wanting.
“This team has bottle, this team has character and this team has courage and I appeal to the Galway supporters that wherever this match is next weekend that they have a team worth following and come out and support us.”
Last year’s beaten All-Ireland finalists are next up, and McIntyre has insisted his side must regain their focus very quickly.
“The reality is we have a quick turnaround, we have Waterford next week and this victory won’t count for anything if we slip up there.
“But we have to live for the moment too, that’s what sport is all about. I know all about the other side as a player and as a manager, so I’m going to cherish this one tonight but from tomorrow morning our entire focus will be on the Waterford match. I’d like to think that this team has more to offer this summer.”
In yesterday's other clash in Thurles, Limerickcame back from an early Laoisonslaught to secure a quarter-final clash against Dublin, winning by 0-20 to 1-14.
Eoin Costelloe struck an early goal as Niall Rigney’s side hit 1-5 in the opening six minutes despite playing into the wind. But Limerick clawed their way back and trailed by three points (0-9 to 1-9) at the break.
Laois were still two ahead going into the last quarter but points from Andrew O'Shaughnessy, Donie Ryan and David Breen helped them secure a three-point victory in the end.