Cork 2-22 Galway 0-25
Galway will play their league hurling in the second tier in 2017 after a couple of late goals from Seamus Harnedy and Patrick Horgan rescued Cork and sent the Tribesmen down to Division 1B.
It was perhaps a little harsh on Galway who were well in control of matters at Pearse Stadium, but they will regret a poor defensive display early on where they allowed the Cork forwards too much room and they punished them severely.
Joe Canning led the comeback for Galway, but in the end his 13-point haul was not enough as Galway manager Michéal Donoghue saw his side relegated in his first season as Galway boss.
There was a further blow to Galway with the confirmation that last year’s All Star nominee Jonathan Glynn will not be returning from America to play in the championship, but Donoghue still sees small positives from their league campaign.
After a win and two draws in their campaign to date Galway were hot favourites to avoid the drop in this one, but Kieran Kingston’s side rediscovered their top form to upset the home side.
Conor Lehane’s six points was a big reason why Cork took the win in front of 6,110 spectators in Salthill, with the Midleton man in unstoppable form at times - his points just after half-time and late on were masterful to say the least.
In the first 12 minutes Lehane, Brian Lawton, Alan Cadogan and Daniel Kearney made the most of some charitable defending from Galway as Cork raced into a 0-9 to 0-4 lead. Too often the Galway defence were a yard too far away from their man, while Cork’s short stick passing found a player in space.
But with Canning in brilliant form from his centre-forward berth Galway rallied in the second quarter. Points from Aidan Harte, Cathal Mannion and Conor Whelan, as well as Canning accuracy from dead balls meant Galway deserved to be within a point at the interval, 0-14 to 0-13.
Cork started well after the break thanks to a stunning Lehane solo effort, and it wasn’t until the 46th minute that Galway finally took the lead for the first time.
But they were caught out in the closing nine minutes. First Harnedy’s shot found the net through a crowd of defenders, before Horgan pulled first time on a breaking ball to clinch the win for Cork five minutes from time.
Cork: A Nash; D Cahalane, S McDonnell, C O'Sullivan; C Murphy, C Joyce, L McLoughlin; W Egan (0-1), D Kearney (0-2); B Lawton (0-2), C Lehane (0-6), B Cooper (0-1); A Cadogan (0-3), S Harnedy (1-0), P Horgan (1-7, 0-3f). Subs: J Cronin for Cadogan (58 mins), W Leahy for Lawton (66 mins), K Burke for Kearney (71 mins).
Galway: J Skehill; D Collins, J Hanbury, P Hoban; A Tuohy, D Burke (c) (0-1), A Harte (0-1); D Glennon, P Brehony (0-1); A Smith (0-1), J Canning (0-13, 0-11f, 0-1'sl, 0-1'65), N Burke (0-3); C Whelan (0-1), C Mannion (0-3), J Flynn. Subs: I Tannian (0-1) for Harte (17-22 blood & 28 mins), K Hussey for Hoban (35 mins), C Donnellan for Flynn (62 mins).
Referee: James McGrath (Westmeath).
