Shefflin content with fringe benefits after Walsh Cup win
It might not be where their priorities lie for the year, but Galway manager Henry Shefflin believes the Walsh Cup is providing an ideal test for the fringe players within his squad.
Following previous victories against Offaly and Laois, the Tribesmen booked their spot alongside Wexford in this Leinster competition’s showpiece (for the second year running) with a comfortable triumph over Dublin at Parnell Park on Saturday. The more established Evan Niland struck an outstanding tally of 0-17 for the winners, but a number of players with sights on claiming a starting berth were given a chance to impress.
Included amongst this cohort are the likes of Salthill-Knocknacarra’s Donal O’Shea, whose father Eamon is part of Shefflin’s backroom team for 2024.
“I think it’s the development of the players that were probably numbers 15 to 30 last year. How many of them can go another level this year? This is a very important competition for them,” Shefflin explained.
“The newer players, it’s about integrating them in. Great if someone comes through, but you’re looking for those group of players that have been around for a few years and see if they can make the step up.
“Donal is one of those players that has been around, this is his third year on the panel. He knows this is a big moving year for him. We do know it’s very early days. The levels and the tests are going to start increasing as it goes on, but that’s the joys of it and we look forward to that.”
Although the likes of Cian O’Sullivan and Brian Hayes helped Dublin to open up a 0-5 to 0-2 lead by the 15th minute, Galway eventually found their feet in the Donnycarney venue. Niland ended the 2023 championship season with 0-77 to his name and he fired nine points over the course of a productive opening period.
Corner-forward Declan McLoughlin and wing-back Ronan Glennon also found the range, before Jason Flynn’s clinical stoppage-time goal offered Galway a 1-11 to 0-7 interval buffer.
The Sky Blues threatened a significant revival on the restart with three points on the bounce from Dara Purcell and O’Sullivan (two), but their western counterparts effectively weathered this storm. With Niland continuing to prosper from both placed balls and open play, Galway pulled 11 points clear inside the closing 10 minutes to leave the final outcome beyond all doubt.
Dublin had experimented with experienced defender Eoghan O’Donnell at full-forward before he was withdrawn late in the first half through injury, but even though substitute Sean Currie (two), O’Sullivan and Hayes raised white flags late on, Niland, McLoughlin and Martin McManus did likewise at the opposite end to ensure Galway eased over the line.
Now in their second season under former Tribes manager Micheál Donoghue, Dublin couldn’t build on earlier victories at the expense of Westmeath and Antrim in this year’s Walsh Cup. Although he acknowledged they fell short in a couple of areas against his native county, Donoghue is already switching his focus to a NHL Division 1 Group B opener with Tipperary in Parnell on Saturday week (February 3).
“I think three lads were getting their first minutes today and all eyes are on two weeks’ time. The last few weeks have gone okay for us, obviously we had two decent wins and today was going to be a different challenge,” Donoghue said.
“I thought we started the game well and had a good few forced turnovers. Created some good goal chances and didn’t take them. Missed a few frees. A bit to work on, but a lot of positives to take out of it.”
E Niland (0-17, 11f, 1 ‘65’), J Flynn (1-0), D McLoughlin (0-3), R Glennon, D O’Shea, T Monaghan, M McManus (0-1 each).
C O’Sullivan (0-7, 5f), S Currie (0-3, 3f), B Hayes (0-2), C Foley, D Purcell, D Leavy, A Considine, D O Dulaing (0-1 each).
D Fahy; J Grealish, G McInerney, S Morgan; R Glennon, C Fahy, S O’Hanlon; D O’Shea, P Mannion; T Monaghan, J Flynn, J Cooney; E Niland, M McManus, D McLoughlin.
D Loftus for McInerney (h-t), I McGlynn for Glennon, A Connaire for Flynn (both 50), M Walsh for Fahy (56), T Killeen for Monaghan (60-65), E Lawless for Grealish (63), Killeen for Morgan (65).
E Gibbons; J Bellew, P Smyth, R Smith; D Leavy, C Burke, D Gray; B Hayes, D Power; D Sutcliffe, C O’Sullivan, C Foley; D Purcell, E O’Donnell, A Considine.
D O Dulaing for O’Donnell (35+1), S Currie for Sutcliffe, P Crummey for Considine (both h-t), C Donohoe for Leavy (45), M Grogan for Gray, F Whitely for Foley (both 47), J Madden for Smith (50), J Malone for Purcell (60).
E Furlong (Wexford).