Galway minors continued where their senior counterparts left off recently when they too defeated Cork, in the All-Ireland minor hurling quarter-final at Croke Park yesterday.
Galway ... 2-10 Cork ... 2-6
The westerners thus gained a measure of revenge for their loss in last year's final to the same opposition.
Inspired by the very impressive Kenneth Burke in the full-forward line and the admirable shooting accuracy of Cathal Dervan, Galway overcame a disappointing Cork side and eventually ran out four-point winners.
The relatively slender margin of defeat was actually flattering to the southern boys as they never looked like winning the game at any stage. Their most dominant period came in the 10 minutes after half-time, when they stirred themselves after Galway's second goal.
However, despite having a stranglehold on possession at this stage, they only had two Michael Naughton 65s to show for their efforts.
It might all have been different if Aidan Ryan hadn't made a fantastic save from Gavin O'Loughlin three minutes into the second half. O'Loughlin, searching for his hat-trick after two goals before the interval, raced away from James Farrell, but Ryan was equal to his shooting effort.
The game had started off at a brisk pace, with Galway settling quicker as Aengus Callanan scored almost direct from the throw-in, and Burke following it up a minute later.
Most of the better hurling in the match was displayed in the first 20 minutes, as both teams notched up score after score. However, Galway's early advantage always kept them a point or two to the good.
In the 13th minute, O'Loughlin brought the Munster side back into the game, with his first goal, a sweet finish, lofting the sliotar over Ryan's head after running 40 yards.
The game only remained level for five minutes, though, as Burke tormented the Cork defence, escaping a pair of defenders, before creating an opening Callanan delightfully availed of, burying it past the helpless Shay Bowen.
It was 1-6 to 1-3 at that stage.
O'Loughlin, though, was leading the Cork charge and moments later, following a mix-up in the Galway defence, he managed to find enough room to squeeze in his second goal. Despite Burke knocking over a nice point just before the interval to ensure Galway held the slenderest of leads, Cork were still in the ball game.
Burke's goal moments after the restart gave Galway an advantage they wouldn't subsequently lose. Getting his hurl to Iarlaith Tannian's long-range free, Burke deflected the ball to the back of the Cork net.
Cork responded well to the Galway goal, but couldn't translate their efforts into a significant improvement on the score-board. When Naughton hit his third point of the match in the 40th minute, it was to be Cork's last score of the game.
Only a point behind at that stage, their challenge faltered. Cathal Dervan hit two points to put a goal between the sides.
The final 15 minutes petered out into a frustrating show of bad shooting, but Cork still had the chance to get into the game. Brendan Barry found himself clear with moments to go, but his shot blazed wide and with it perished Cork's challenge.
GALWAY: A Ryan; D Collins, A Gaynor, J Farrell, P Flynn, A Garvey, K Brisco; I Tannian (0-2), N Callanan (0-1); J Gantley (capt), C Dervan (0-4,2 frees), B Lucas, N Healy, A Callanan (1-1), K Burke (1-2). Subs: D Kelly for Callanan (35 mins), T Linnane for Farrell (53 mins), D Garvey for Lucas (45 mins), K Huban for Gantley (54 mins), D Reilly for Healy (60 mins).
CORK: S Bowen; D Murphy, B Lane, PJ Copse; R Relihan, M Naughton (0-3, 265s), B Clifford; K Harnett (0-1), B Smiddy; P Fitzgerald, S O'Sullivan (0-1), M O'Sullivan, B Barry (0-1), G O'Loughlin (2-0), R Butler. Subs: B Ring for Smiddy (39 mins), M Harrington for M O'Sullivan (40 mins), M O'Leary for S O'Sullivan (54 mins).
Referee: E Morris (Dublin)
