Allianz Hurling League Division 1A – Galway 2-15 Clare 1-17

Galway defeated Clare by 2-15 to 1-17 in Round 1 of the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A on February 15th in Pearse Stadium, Galway.

D1A: Flynn wins it for Galway in Salthill

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION IA: GALWAY 2-15 CLARE 1-17

Jason Flynn was the hero for Galway when he hit two points from distance in the dying moments to snatch victory at wet and windy Pearse Stadium on Sunday.

Flynn hit a ’65’ to level the match and then two minutes into stoppage time kept his nerve to steer a difficult free from 50 metres on the right touchline between the posts for the winner. It completed a good comeback after Clare’s strong showing after half-time looked like it would be enough to secure an opening win.

Galway led by 1-9 to 1-8 at the interval having played against the wind when Cathal Mannion found the net just before the break. Galway did all the early running and led by 0-5 to 0-1 after nine minutes before Clare rallied with Bobby Duggan hitting three points.

But Galway still enjoyed a 0-8 to 0-4 lead nine minutes from the break when the Bannermen got moving with Colin Ryan pointing a free before a long range effort from him was flicked to the net by John Conlon.

Clare shot points from Colin Ryan, Shane O’Donnell and Brendan Bugler to lead by 1-12 to 1-9 after 41 minutes and while Jason Flynn (two) and Jonathan Glynn found the range for the Tribesmen, Clare still enjoyed a goal lead twelve minutes from time after Conor McGrath (two) and Colin Ryan replied.

Then Joseph Cooney levelled with a goal and while McGrath and Flynn exchanged points, Clare looked good for victory when John Conlon hit one of the scores of the game with a point from the right touchline. However, that was merely the cue for Flynn to hit back for Galway and his two late efforts sealed victory to give Anthony Cunningham’s men a great start to their league campaign.
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Scorers for Galway: J Flynn 0-9 (7f); C Mannion 1-1, J Cooney 1-0, J Glynn 0-2; J Regan 0-1, G McInerney0-1, P Brehony 0-1.

Scorers for Clare: Colin Ryan 0-6 (4f), J Conlon 1-2, B Duggan 0-3, C McGrath 0-3, C Galvin 0-1, S O’Donnell 0-1, B Bugler 0-1

GALWAY: C Callanan; J Coen, J Hanbury, R Burke; G McInerney, D Collins (capt), I Tannian; A Smith, J Cooney; P Brehony, J Glynn, D Higgins; J Regan, J Flynn, C Mannion
Subs: G Lally for Burke (48 mins), A Harte for Higgins (52), B Molloy for Regan (64), P Killeen for Brehony (66).

CLARE: P Kelly; D O’Donovan, C Dillon (capt), J Browne; C Cleary, Conor Ryan, B Bugler; P O’Connor, Colin Ryan; P Donnellan, B Duggan, C Galvin; J Conlon, S O’Donnell, D Reidy
Subs: C McGrath for Reid (45 mins), A Cunningham for Donnellan (53), S Morey for Cleary (65), C O’Connell for Colin Ryan (68).

Referee: Brian Gavin (Offaly)
***
Report: John Fallon for GAA.ie

Fixture Details

15.02.2015 (Sun)
Allianz Hurling League Roinn 1A 2015 Round 1
Pearse Stadium, Salthill 14:00
Gaillimh v An Clár
Referee: Brain Gavin (Uíbh Fhailí)

In our latest Division IA team preview, we look at @GaaClare, looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2014: http://t.co/aoL4ZbomLN #GAA

— The GAA (@officialgaa) February 13, 2015

Team News

GALWAY

1. Colm Callanan (Kinvara)
2. John Hanbury (Rahoon/Newcastle)
3. Fergal Moore (Turloughmore)
4. Ronan Burke (Turloughmore)
5. Gearoid McInerney (Oranmore/Maree)
6. David Collins (Liam Mellows)
7. Padraig Mannion (Ahascragh/Fohenagh)
8. Iarla Tannian (Ardrahan)
9. Joseph Cooney (Sarsfields)
10. Padraig Brehony (Tynagh/Abbey/Duniry)
11. Jonathan Glynn (Ardrahan)
12. Dean Higgins (Castlegar)
13. James Regan (St. Thomas)
14. Jason Flynn (Tommy Larkins)
15. Cathal Mannion (Ahascragh/Fohenagh)