Goals from Brian Concannon and Donal O’Shea proved the difference as Galway got off to a winning start under new manager Henry Shefflin at the expense of Offaly this afternoon.

The Tribesmen finished 2-19 to 0-19 winners at Duggan Park, Ballinasloe, where a limited capacity crowd of 3,000 was in attendance.

The sides had been level three times during the opening quarter before points from Ronan Glennon and Conor Walsh saw Galway lead by 0-7 to 0-5 at the first water break.

The hosts would lose centre-forward Jason Flynn to a hamstring injury after just nine minutes and that saw Donal O’Shea take on the free-taking duties for rest of the afternoon.

O’Shea would strike four points before the break and Concannon’s goal late in the half had Shefflin’s men leading by 1-12 to 0-13 at the interval.

Eoghan Cahill, who finished with 0-11, kept Offaly right in contention throughout the first-half and he’d draw the Faithful men level (0-17 to 1-14) come the 51st minute.

O’Shea struck over two more frees to edge the home side back in front and while Cahill had it down to the minimum again, O’Shea’s goal 15 minutes from the end provided enough of a cushion for the Tribesmen.

Dublin's Colin Currie with Gerard Walsh of Antrim ©INPHO/Evan Treacy

Dublin overcame a strong start from opponents Antrim to seal an opening win in the Walsh Cup on a 2-27 to 1-21 score-line.

Deaglan Murphy’s goal had helped Antrim run up a 1-7 to 0-3 lead after 13 minutes but Mattie Kenny’s charges clawed back the deficit and eventually drew level before Cian O’Sullivan found the Saffrons’ net on the eve of half-time.

It saw the hosts head in with a 1-13 to 1-11 lead and at the start of the second-half Colin Currie hammered in their second goal.

Donal Burke could’ve had the capital men’s third goal but for a brilliant save by Paul McMullan, but Dublin ran out comfortable winners anyway as Currie’s frees were backed up by points from sub Eamonn Dillon, Rian McBride and Chris Crummey late on.

In Rathdowney, Wexford were 1-27 to 1-16 winners over Laois - a result that handed Darragh Egan his first win as Model County boss.

Stephen Maher’s goal on eight minutes levelled things up for Laois but the visitors proved too strong for them as the points of Cathal Dunbar, Billy Dunne and Rory O'Connor moved them towards a 0-15 to 1-7 half-time lead.

Richie Lawlor rattled the O’Moore men’s net within six minutes of the restart and from there Wexford were able to see out victory by 11 points.

Tweet

Most Read Stories