Restoring some Faithful pride.
A hungry Offaly side put it up to Galway in front of a home, partisan O’Connor Park crowd but the Tribesmen always seemed to have something in reserve, and whenever they needed it, they would call upon it and kick on.
Micheal Donoghue’s men may have been slow to get going but once they did, they were ruthless and they’ll be delighted to set their Leinster campaign in motion with a win.
If the 11/1 outsider’s task was to drag Galway down with a combination of savage intensity and dogged tackling with the end goal to at least to be competitive, then this was mission accomplished for Kevin Martin’s men.
In the end, the winning margin was thirteen points as Galway’s class players like Whelan, Mannion and Cooney set them apart. These are hurlers that Offaly just don’t have.
None the less, Offaly’s supporters will be proud of them as despite the concession of an early and potentially damaging Brian Concannon goal, they rallied, they hassled and they never ever gave up the ghost.
Shane Dooley was quick to respond with a goal for Offaly and that kept them ticking over. For Galway, Joseph Cooney was running riot and he had 1-4 to his name from open play by the time this game was 25 minutes old.
Eoghan Cahill pulled off a great save from a Joe Canning penalty and that helped to keep Galway in sight, but with Cathal Mannion and Conor Whelan making their presence felt, it was only a matter of time before Galway lengthened their stride and put distance between the sides.
Indeed, that man Cahill had a busy championship debut, but he proved that he was more than up for the challenge. Were it not for the Birr man between the sticks, Galway would certainly have had at least two if not three more goals scored.
Not only was his shot-stopping impressive, but also his distribution and his point-taking from long range frees.
At half-time there was five points between the sides, with the men in maroon leading by five points on a scoreline of 2-9 to 1-7.
Galway put the foot down in the second half with Concannon registering his second goal on an impressive championship debut.
Joe Bergin got one back but that was as good as it got for the home side. Conor Whelan would hit them for a three pointer before substitute Jason Flynn would do the same.
That helped Offaly to a 5-18 to 2-15 victory.
All the talk was about that man Cahill.
Hard luck to @Offaly_GAA – ye gave @Galway_GAA a great match…Cahill is some keeper! Safe journey home to all who travelled… #gaillimhabú 🇶🇦🇶🇦
— Marún agus bán (@TribesmenGAA) May 12, 2018
Leinster SHC FT Galway 5 18 Offaly 2 15. A strange game. Offaly battled fierce hard and put it up to Galway at times but only heroics by goalkeeper Eoghan Cahill stopped the All Ireland champions running in eight goals plus. Progress from last year but still a lot of work to do
— Kevin Corrigan (@kevcorrigantrib) May 12, 2018
Highlights of the evening:
Eoghan Cahill's goalkeeping,
Ben Conneely's skill and perception,
Shane Kinsella's midfield play.— Plain of the Herbs (@Plainofherbs) May 12, 2018
Killer blow of a goal for Galway just before half time to give them a 5pt lead at the break. Offaly goalkeeper Eoghan Cahill made 2 outstanding stops. One from a penalty. But Galway play into the "scoring end" for the second half..😀
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 12, 2018
They are doing very well! Prob welcomed the short whistle when it came, but Eoghan Cahill did well to deny another couple of goals too!
— Lisa Lawlor (@Lisa_Lawlor) May 12, 2018
2nd Half – 13 mins. @gaaleinster Senior Hurling Championship: @Galway_GAA 3-13, @Offaly_GAA 2-10
Joe Canning '65' after another great save by Eoghan Cahill— Leinster GAA (@gaaleinster) May 12, 2018
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