CORK 4-22 GALWAY 0-22

A four-goal haul from Cork sent them safely past Galway at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh last night and through to an Allianz HL Division 1A decider with Tipperary.

Having hit All-Ireland champions Clare for six goals in their previous outing to put them in second place in the standings and make this a winner-take-all tie, four green flags – two in each half – ensured that the Tribesmen were seen off.

On a night when Patrick Horgan’s tally of 1-9 made him the top scorer in hurling league history, the only potential downside for Pat Ryan’s side was a knee injury that forced the impressive Brian Hayes off in the second half. Even then, the hosts enjoyed scoring cameos from Séamus Harnedy and Alan Connolly as they returned from injury, underlining the strength in depth that last year’s All-Ireland finalists possess. They will seek to end a 27-year wait for the league title in a fortnight.

In front of 20,010 people – the third home game of the campaign where they broke the 20,000 barrier – Cork matched Galway in the opening stages, with the visitors failing to make the most of scoring opportunities with the wind behind them.

It was 0-4 each when the first goal came. Cork captain Robert Downey, assured at centre-back throughout, broke up a Galway attack with a good interception and that allowed Ethan Twomey to launch a delivery to Hayes, who did well to create space before finishing confidently.

They were four ahead when Horgan pointed a free but Galway came back with scores from Rory Burke, Niland and Cathal Mannion, who finished with five. Cork hit back with another goal, though.

This was again the product of strong application as Brian Roche and Hayes won a break from a Patrick Collins puckout, allowing Darragh Fitzgibbon to drive goalward and send a low shot past Éanna Murphy. A point from man of the match Tim O’Mahony had them 2-6 to 0-7 in front and, with Niall O’Leary and Downey good in defence, it was 2-12 to 0-12 at half-time.

Though Evan Niland had the opening score of the second half, a third Cork goal – brilliantly set up by Declan Dalton after a great catch, allowing Horgan to score – put any doubts about the outcome to bed. Even when Galway looked like they might fashion a goal to erode the Cork advantage, sub Declan McLoughlin found himself denied by a brilliant O’Leary challenge and, at the other end, Shane Barrett and sub Cormac O’Brien ensured that the Cork lead was extended.

They had lost Hayes by the time of fourth goal, on 56 minutes, but it was his replacement, Shane Kingston, who was the foil to allow the rampaging O’Mahony to play a one-two before finishing well, opening up a lead of 14 points, 4-19 to 0-17.

Sub Conor Cooney did help to redress that deficit late on but only slightly, while Harnedy and Connolly were both among the scores as Cork marched on to the decider.

Scorers for Cork: Patrick Horgan 1-9 (0-6 frees), Shane Barrett 0-4, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Tim O’Mahony 1-1 each, Brian Hayes 1-0, Declan Dalton 0-2 (0-1 free), Ethan Twomey, Brian Roche, Cormac O’Brien, Séamus Harnedy, Alan Connolly 0-1 each.

Scorers for Galway: Evan Niland 0-7 (0-5 frees, 0-1 65), Cathal Mannion 0-5, Conor Cooney 0-3 (0-1 free), Rory Burke 0-2, Tiernan Killeen, Tom Monaghan, Conor Whelan, Declan McLoughlin, Jason Flynn (0-1 free) 0-1 each.

CORK: Patrick Collins; Seán O’Donoghue, Damien Cahalane, Niall O’Leary; Ciarán Joyce, Robert Downey, Mark Coleman; Tim O’Mahony, Ethan Twomey; Shane Barrett, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Brian Roche; Declan Dalton, Patrick Horgan, Brian Hayes.

Subs: Cormac O’Brien for Coleman (40), Séamus Harnedy for Roche (46), Alan Connolly for Dalton (50), Shane Kingston for Hayes (55, injured), Diarmuid Healy for Horgan (65).

GALWAY: Éanna Murphy; Pádraic Mannion, Darren Morrissey, Joshua Ryan; Cianán Fahy, Gavin Lee, Shane Morgan; Tom Monaghan, Seán Linnane; Rory Burke, Tiernan Killeen, Cathal Mannion; Conor Whelan, Brian Concannon, Evan Niland.

Subs: Jason Flynn for Concannon (half-time), Conor Cooney for Whelan, Declan McLoughlin for Niland (both 46), Ronan Glennon for C Mannion (53).

Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin).

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