Galway Advertiser 2005/2005_04_07/GA_0704_E1_124.pdf 

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124

SPORT

April 7 2005

Galway face difficult test in Wexford
Galway continue their bid to retain the Allianz Hurling League title when they take on Wexford at Wexford Park on Sunday (3.30pm) in the first series of games in Phase 2. The top three from Div 1A (Kilkenny, Galway, Clare) take on the top three from 1B (Cork, Wexford, and Tipperary) over the next three weekends, with the top two qualifying for the final on May 1. In this 13th season of the Allianz Hurling League sponsored by Allianz, Galway remain in a strong position to retain the league title. Last year's beaten finalists Waterford are gone, yet it is another team from the south east that stands between Galway and the second round of Phase Two of the Allianz Hurling League. Galway have never won back-toback the titles since winning their first of eight in 1932. They won again in 1951, and in the past 20 years they have captured six titles. Wexford had to wait until 1956 with a team that included the legendary Rackard family and two years later won their second. The Model County have won two again in 1967 and 1973 but have failed since. Wexford are the only team that have a chance of a hurling and football double in this year's league campaign and that will surely be an incentive to drive the Slaney men on home soil. The footballers are through to the semifinals while the hurlers play Galway, Kilkenny, and Clare over the next three weekends in their bid to reach the final. In this year's league campaign Wexford have won four of their five games, defeating Antrim, Tipperary, Limerick, and Down, but losing to Cork by just one point. The Model county have scored a highly impressive 16-80 in this year's league campaign and conceded 6-58 in the five games. They had by far the best scoring difference in the league but failed to grab the top spot in Division 1B by losing to Cork. With scoring forwards of high calibre, Galway defence could be under a lot of pressure on Sunday. Galway have had an impressive campaign. They defeated Dublin, Clare, Waterford, and Laois, but lost to Kilkenny at Nowlan Park. Galway's scoring power does not look as impressive as Wexford - 9-86 scored and conceded 7-65. However the Tribesmen have experience and depth in their panel and they will be well up for the Wexford onslaught. Goalkeeper Liam Donoghue has been in fine form all season, while Damien Joyce, Derek Hardiman, and Ollie Canning have been most impressive in defence. David Collins and Richie Murray are worth looking at as a possible championship partnership around the centre, while Damien Hayes, Ger Farragher, and Kevin Broderick have been in flying form all year. One of the biggest difficulties for Conor Hayes and his selectors Seamus Coen, Pierce Piggott and Gerry Dempsey is where to place Eugene Cloonan if he returns to the team as Farragher has been most impressive at the edge of the square. Nevertheless Galway's problems are more positive than negative, and they will be hard to beat in this contest. Wexford have a motivating factor in seeking an historic league double, but Galway are likely to edge what could be a highly entertaining encounter.

Galway United's hectic recent schedule continues at Richmond Park this Sunday afternoon as Stephen Lally's side face fellow promotion hopefuls Dublin City. It certainly has been a busy week for United, but a victory in the capital would be gleefully received after Tuesday's demoralising defeat against a highly impressive Sligo Rovers. United's solid early season performances had injected supporters with real optimism that 2005 may be an interesting year in the club's history. But the Sligo game will be remembered not only for the wretched weather but the inept home performance which was severely punished by a superior team. Attendances at the first two Terryland Park encounters have provided real encouragement and a favourable result in the capital would surely ensure the next couple of home fixtures will attract respectable crowds. In Kilkenny, United lacked the pace and persistence of Davie O'Dowd, but the game was one of the poorest Eircom League encounters in quite some time. John Russell did show glimpses of skill, while Barry Moran toiled incessantly. Unfortunately though the United attack was starved of quality possession in a drab event. Lally's charges poured forward in a frantic final five minutes, but just could not rattle the Kilkenny net. On Tuesday Moran battled honourably despite being starved of quality

Galway need to Dominic King Cup recapture pre-season remains highlight of dash against Dublin basketball calendar
possession. Russell reverted to midfield, but Sligo just dominated every sector. Though Sligo were a physically imposing outfit, they also played an imaginative brand of football against a United team whose full backs rarely crossed the half way line. Ronan Frawley and Marcin Syzmanski do offer Lally aerial presence, but if United are to make a bold bid for promotion, the fullbacks will need to attack with far greater urgency. Mark Herrick might have been called ashore early on Tuesday, but the former Cork City star did contribute an honest performance against a Sligo team that passed the ball with verve and imagination. Dublin City surely will not be as capable a footballing team as the north westerners, yet with Dermot Keely at the helm, they will be more than competitive. United will need to recapture the dash of their pre-season displays when the players accepted responsibility against high calibre premier division opposition. This week has been a sobering reality check. With Nigel Keady's enduring excellence and Moran still capable of scoring goals, United will travel to the Pale hopeful of attaining some sort of dividend. Even at this premature stage of the stage, there is little margin for error, and United must produce a polished display to restore confidence. The traditional power bases of Maree and Moycullen are expected to feature strongly in the highlight of the Galway basketball season, the Dominic King Memorial Cup. Building on the tradition of the venerable tournament known locally as the Guinness Cup, this weekend of basketball now features both senior and under-age finals and honours the memory of Dominic King, the Claddagh native whose dedication gave the sport a foothold across the city and county. Featuring games from u-12 boys and girls' teams up to senior level, the tournament showcases the best of Galway basketball. Although the stronger teams still tilt to the urban centres, it is anticipated that Dominic King Cup will experience phenomenal growth over the coming seasons in keeping with King's philosophy of extending the game throughout the west. "I think the Galway area and western region has tremendous potential to become a real model for the development of basketball on a national level," said Debbie Massey, the Irish Basketball CEO, this week. "If the obvious vision and dedication of the board under the chairmanship of Pual Hewitt is realised, then Galway can become the new emerging powerhouse for the sport." Basketball has undergone something of a rebirth in Galway in recent seasons - not only with the success of Moycullen's national league team, but also in the number of young players emanating from clubs like Maree and Claregalway. Maree has many promising young players in action this weekend, including schoolboy international Danny Finn who will lead the senior men's team in their quest for a return to the cup final, which will be played on Sunday afternoon. NUIG stand in their way, but the potential game of the day features Moycullen, who have entered two teams to the cup. The Cunningham brothers, John and Nollaig, lead Moycullen 1, along with the deeply talented Cian Nihill, last year voted the u-16 Irish International of the Year. Moycullen 2 have the sweet shooting Canadian player Adrian Walsh and the versatile Marcus O'Grady along with the highly regarded Evan Keane. In the senior women's competition, the rivalry of Moycullen and Team Cuba might well prove definitive. Local girls Lorraine McStay and Laura McAteer have had a terrific season for Moycullen and the team has benefited greatly from the arrival of American player Rachel Kilkey. However Team Cuba have their own foreign star in Spanish player Maria Navarro. However the emphasis of the weekend is very much on the underage teams. The first game tips off at 10 am in the NUIG sports arena. "The idea behind this tournament is to build on last year's success and to try to raise the profile of the game in the city and also across the county,"says Paul Hewitt. "We have some fantastic young players coming through in Galway and we know there are many more out there and we hope that this tournament will go from strength to strength and become a fixture on the Galway sporting calendar." Therese King will present the cup named in memory of her husband following the senior men's final on Sunday afternoon. It is believed that Joe King, Dominic's brother and playing partner with Claddagh Shamrocks, will don the whistle for that men's final. An anniversary Mass for Dominic King will be held on Friday in the Claddagh Church at 7.30pm.

Wexford and Galway do battle in top of table camogie clash
Galway and Wexford, who have already secured a place in the final stages of the National Senior Camogie League, meet in a top of the table clash at Duggan Park, Ballinasloe, on Sunday (2.30pm). Galway are unbeaten since Sharon Glynn's controversial appointment as manager, and Sunday will surely test this record. Having recorded a facile victory over Antrim, Galway looked more impressive against Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds two weeks ago. Last year Wexford reached the National League decider for the first time since 1992, while in the Foras na Gaelige All Ireland Senior Camogie Championship, the Model County lost out to Tipperary at the semifinal stage. Wexford have continued to improve in recent times, and under manager Willie Carley, they have defeated Limerick and Antrim. They boast three All Stars in Aine Codd, Kate Kelly, and Mary Leacy. Along with the aforementioned players, Una Lacey, Catherine O'Loughlin, and Michelle Hearne are experienced and quality players. However Galway has solid defenders in Sinead Cahalan and Regina Glynn. Therese Maher's return has been a huge boost to the team - a top quality player who can play equally well in defence or attack. Aine Hillary, who has been out of action with illness, could feature in this encounter, while Lorraine Lally and Ailbhe Kelly are another two who are likely to see action. Veronica Curtin made a return to action during the Limerick game and scored 1-3 after her introduction. Curtin is likely to cause selection problems for the Galway management as the Kinvara native has produced much of her best action from full forward, which could see Ann Marie Hayes moved to the corner or outfield. Lourda Kavanagh, Brenda Hanney, and Aislinn Connolly are also contenders for the Galway attack which should test the Wexford defence. While the Galway side is young and may lack experience, the players certainly do not lack initiative, speed, and hunger. They possess the ability to compete at top level and the signs are there that they could well become a major force in the national camogie scene. The game will be preceded by a clash of the same counties in the junior league at 1pm.

Galway United's John Russell on the attack with Sligo Rovers' Jason McCartney in pursuit during the Eircom League first division game at Terryland Park on Tuesday evening. Photo:-Mike Shaughnessy