McShane Injury Overshadows Heavy Defeat

Sunday 23.02.2020

County

Allianz League Division 1
Galway 2-25 Tyrone 0-12

Tuam Stadium 2020 will live long in the memory of the players, management and fans that made the trip to the West of Ireland on Sunday afternoon.  Not only did Tyrone suffer their heaviest defeat under manager Mickey Harte but it looks almost certain that they will be without the All Star full forward for the remainder of the 2020 season following a serious ankle injury.

Galway for their part look like serious contenders for at least League honours this year scoring freely from play throughout the game.

Tyrone’s best spell came in the third quarter when they reduced the gap to three points but Shane Walsh then converted a penalty while Galway then kicked eight unanswered points to end the game as a contest.  Galway dominated the first half playing some superb attacking football on their way to establishing a 0-12 to 0-6 lead.

The hosts almost enjoyed a dream start but Robert Finnerty hit the post after 50 seconds after a flowing move. A Darren McCurry free opened the scoring for Tyrone but midfielder Ronan Steede levelled matters with the first of three quality first half scores.

Damian Comer then cut in from the left wing to fist a point before Eamon Brannigan put two between the sides. Tyrone hit the post four times in the opening half and from the first of those Cathal McShane pointed from the rebound.

Steede and McShane traded points before Galway took control. Comer, Shane Walsh and Adrian Varley all scored although sandwiched in between keeper Connor Gleeson made a double save to deny Colm Cavanagh a goal.

Galway captain Walsh landed an outstanding point from out on the right wing before Kieran McGeary responded at the other end of the field.  Michael Daly then got his name on the scoresheet before Tyrone were dealt a blow in the 28th minute when McGeary was straight red carded for a challenge on his opposite number Brannigan.

Comer knocked over the resulting forty metre free before Finnerty became the 6th Galway forward to score. Steede then hit  beauty from distance before Tyrone brought the first half scoring to a close from a McCurry free.  Walsh opened the second half scoring from a free before Tyrone lost the unfortunate McShane who was stretchered off after falling awkwardly when winning a free.

McCurry converted three frees in a row before Varley replied for Galway. McCurry then hit a superb point from play and when substitute Mark Bradley registered it was 0-14 to 0-11.  Moments later Comer won a penalty which Walsh clinically dispatched and Galway never looked back. Time and time again they hit Tyrone on the counter attack with a number of quality scores.

Frank Burns was sent off for a second yellow card with Walsh converting the resulting free. Substitute Paul Conroy then buried his side’s second goal in the 62nd minute and Tyrone were looking at a heavy defeat.  Brannigan, Hardy and Walsh all added to the winners tally with Tyrone’ s sole response coming from a McCurry free as Galway took the spoils with plenty to spare.

Galway: C Gleeson, S Kelly, S Mulkerrin, J Heaney, G O Donnell, L Silke, C McDaid, R Steede (0-3), C D”Arcy, E Brannigan (0-5), D Comer (0-2), M Daly (0-1), R Finnerty (0-1), S Walsh (1-8, 6F), A Varley (0-4). Subs: T Flynn for D Arcy, P Conroy (1-1) for Finnerty, D Conneely for Daly, C Campbell for O Donnell, S O Ceallaigh for McDaid

Tyrone: N Morgan, N Kelly, R McNamee, L Rafferty, T McCann, R Brennan, P Harte, C Cavanagh, B Kennedy, K McGeary (0-1),, N Sludden (0-1), D McCurry (0-7, 6F), F Burns, C McShane (0-2), C Meyler. Subs: M McKernan for Kelly,  P Hampsey for Cavanagh, C Grimes for McCann, M Bradley (0-1) for McShane, B McDonnell for Kennedy

Referee: C Lane, Cork