Galway returned to winning ways with a madcap 11-point win over Waterford at Pearse Stadium in Division 1A of the Allianz Hurling League.
Trailing by seven points in the 31st minute, Galway managed to reach half-time with a four-point lead and though Waterford closed to within two early in the second half, the home side streaked clear to score a comfortable win in the end that puts them second behind Tipperary at the top of the table on head-to-head.
It means that should Tipperary beat Waterford next weekend, they will top the group and book a final place in theory, should the game be played later in the summer.
Galway won the toss and opted to play against the breeze, which is always a significant factor at the seaside venue.
As such, Waterford stormed ahead early on, with Jack Prendergast’s goal, fashioned after a brilliant fetch by Shane Bennett from Shaun O’Brien, in the third minute setting them on their way.
By the first water break, Waterford were 1-7 to 0-5 in front and stretched their advantage with another two points on the resumption but a 1-2 blast from Galway, Adrian Tuohey with the goal between a pair of Joe Canning frees, slashed the deficit.
Waterford re-established a six-point lead, however, after the three Bennett brothers linked up brilliantly for their second goal. Stephen released Kieran, whose shot was blocked by Shane Cooney, though he quickly recycled the ball to younger sibling Shane, whose drop-shot gave Eanna Murphy no chance.
Shane Bennett stretched the lead to seven in the 31st minute but Waterford failed to raise another flag for the remainder of the half as Galway finished like a train.
Joe Canning had started at wing-forward only to see his direct opponent, Calum Lyons get upfield and shoot three points, as well as a further two wides, but a move inside benefitted him and Galway, with Conor Whelan going to centre-forward and Cathal Mannion to midfield.
Canning got their second goal in the 33rd minute and rampaged through the centre in injury time to set Brian Concannon up for another after Conor Cooney’s initial effort was saved by Shaun O’Brien.
It was the first time that Galway led and Concannon, who had assisted the first two goals, added two more points while Canning brought his first half tally to 1-6 as the home side led 3-13 to 2-12 at the break, with referee Fergal Horgan having allowed for five minutes of injury time.
Dessie Hutchinson struck for the goal of the game, a peach off his left-hand side, two minutes into the second half to bring Waterford back in touch but Galway, now with wind advantage, were still able to maintain the momentum they built late in the first half and a string of points pushed them 3-22 to 3-16 clear by the second water break.
Galway’s fourth goal shortly after the resumption essentially killed off any hopes of a Waterford recovery as Whelan dispossessed Austin Gleeson, allowing Concannon to stroll through and pick his spot.
The intensity was increasingly drained from the contest up to the final whistle as the teams traded points, with Lyons bringing his personal tally to 0-5 from wing-back, while Evan Niland, after hitting 0-14 from placed balls against Limerick, chipped in with 0-4 from play off the bench.
GALWAY: Eanna Murphy; Shane Cooney, Gearoid McInerney, Darren Morrissey; Padraic Mannion, Daithi Burke (0-1), Fintan Burke; Johnny Coen, Sean Loftus (0-2); Adrian Tuohey (1-0), Cathal Mannion (0-2), Joe Canning (1-8, 0-4f, 0-1 sideline); Conor Whelan (0-6), Conor Cooney (0-3), Brian Concannon (2-2).
Subs: Evan Niland (0-4) for Coen (30), Aidan Harte for Shane Cooney (30+4), Jack Fitzpatrick for Harte (39), Joseph Cooney for Tuohey (49), TJ Brennan for Fintan Burke (60), Sean Linnane for Loftus (62), Kevin Cooney for Canning (64).
WATERFORD: Shaun O’Brien; Shane McNulty, Conor Prunty, Conor Gleeson; Calum Lyons (0-5), Austin Gleeson, Seamus Keating; Jamie Barron (0-1), Jake Dillon; Neil Montgomery (0-1), Jack Prendergast (1-2), Kieran Bennett (0-1); Dessie Hutchinson (1-3), Shane Bennett (1-1), Stephen Bennett (0-8, 0-6f, 0-1 65).
Subs: J Fagan for Montgomery (51), Patrick Curran (0-1) for Shane Bennett (54), Darragh Lyons for Dillon (54), Kevin Moran for Austin Gleeson (58), Billy Power for Kieran Bennett (58), Peter Hogan for Prendergast (62), Shane Fives for Keating (67).
REFEREE: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary).
