Galway 2-22
Cork 1-17

Galway claimed their ninth National Hurling League title this evening with a five-star performance against Cork at Semple Stadium, Thurles.

The Tribesmen were hands down the deserved winners as they were inspired by their captain and Man of the Match Shane Kavanagh at full-back, who nullified the threat of Aisake O hAilpin, as well as ace forward Joe Canning.

A sterling first-half performance helped pave the way for John McIntyre's men as they fired in two goals and led by four points at half-time after playing against the wind and after the restart they struck scores from all over the pitch to cruise to the Division One crown.

Galway could not have asked for a better start to this decider after Damien Hayes rattled the Cork net inside two minutes with a wonder goal. The corner-forward picked up possession in the right corner and darted past Sean Og O hAilpin to bury the ball in Donal Og Cusack's near corner for three early points.

Ronan Curran hit back with a point for Cork, but the Tribesmen looked sharper from the start as points from Hayes and Damien Burke outweighed a sideline puck from Ben O'Connor to keep them a goal to the good.

A fine fetch from Michael Cussen from Colm Callanan's puck-out saw the big half-forward rush forward and point the Rebels' third on 11 minutes and when John Gardiner lashed one over from the distance the minimum stood between the sides on the quarter, as Cork announced their arrival in the game.

Andy Smyth and Cussen traded scores, before Callan pulled off a brilliant save to deny the latter the net and Gardiner eventually sent over the afters to square the sides.

A Ger Farragher free moved Galway back in front and they could have had a second goal were Joe Canning's effort not blocked as they were made settle for Farragher popping the resultant '65'.

It looked to be the wake-up call Denis Walsh's team needed, but they would only flirt with the lead when Cathal Naughton burst through the middle and booted to the net as Canning responded in kind almost immediately by muscling his way past two Cork defenders and smashing the ball to the roof of Og Cusack's net.

Huge points from Farragher and Canning followed as Galway attempted to pull away, but Cork had too much class in their ranks to let them do so at this stage, with O'Connor and Pat Horgan reducing their arrears to two.

Two excellent scores on each side followed, as O'Connor sent over another sweet sideline and the deadly Canning responded from 40 metres out. Another gem from Gardiner and a Farragher free meant the difference stood at three with as many minutes to go in the half.

Cyril Donnellan looked to usher the Connacht men further in front before half-time with a good over from the left flank, but when O'Connor was afforded time and space on his left side he once again split the posts.

Another free from 60 metres out from the lethal Farragher closed the half at 2-12 to 1-11 in Galway's favour.

Points from Canning and Harte kept the Tribesmen on the right track inside the first two minutes of the restart, but Gardiner continued to be a torn in their side and got himself dragged down in the Galway square for a penalty.

However, the puck was tipped over by Callanan from Horgan and a sweet strike from captain Kieran Murphy only had the Rebels' deficit down to four momentarily, as Portumna's Canning and Smyth struck back with singles to keep the difference at six after 45 minutes.

Callanan again saved another goal effort from Cork - this time O'Connor going for the three points - and Galway cleared and went up the other end for a point from Iarla Tannian, who was cautioned in the next attack.

Horgan smashed over a reply after and could have had another but Ollie Canning bravely blocked the corner-forward's effort with his lower-arm. Harte pointed down the other end and Cork had a chance at goal pushed wide after more resolute defending from Canning on Murphy.

The Rebels' captain did land a badly needed score for his side with 13 minutes to go and as the Leesiders rallied they brought their arrears back to five when Aisake O hAilpin's goal shot was blocked by none other than Kavanagh and substitute Jerry O'Connor sent over the rebound.

Goal-scorers Canning and Naughton raised another white flag each as the game drew into its closing moments, but another Farragher free from the distance brought the Connacht side's tally up to 2-20 and it was difficult to see their opponents overcoming that in the time remaining.

In fact it was all Galway towards the end, as substitute Joe Gantley won back possession in his own half and sliced over to leave the southerners seven adrift into injury-time and the same player made it eight a few minutes later when he got the better of his marker again.

They were the hard-earned scores that summed-up Galway's performance in the end, as they claimed the title to give them the perfect boost ahead of their All-Ireland SHC campaign.

Galway - C Callanan; D Joyce, S Kavanagh, O Canning; D Barry, T Og Regan, D Collins; G Farragher (0-6, 4f, 1'65), D Burke (0-1); A Harte (0-3), C Donnellan (0-1), A Smith (0-2); D Hayes (1-1), J Canning (1-5), I Tannian (0-1). Subs - J Gantley (0-2) for Tannian, K Hynes for Smith, N Cahalan for Burke.

Cork - D Og Cusack; S O'Neill, E Dillon, B Murphy; J Gardiner (0-3, 1'65), R Curran (0-1), S Og O'hAilpin; T Kenny, L McLoughlin; M Cussen (0-2), K Murphy (0-2), C Naughton (1-1); B O'Connor (0-4, 2sl), A O'hAilpin, P Horgan (0-3, 1f). Subs - J O'Connor (0-1) for McLoughlin, M Walsh for S Og O'hAilpin, P O'Sullivan for K Murphy.

Ref - J Owens (Wexford) Tweet

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