Galway challenge washed out at Croker

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Written by Staff Reporter

Monday, 11 August 2008

A sterling performance by the Galway footballers was not enough to overcome monsoon conditions and a reinvigorated Kerry at Croke Park on Saturday.

In an unexpected move, the floodlights had to be turned on at GAA headquarters after this All Ireland quarter-final was submerged in a downpour and a blanket of darkness. That the sides produced one of the finest clashes in this and any of the last number of seasons merely shows the quality on display.

Michael Meehan was the star of the show for the Tribesmen and, despite a sweetly taken goal from Donnacha Walsh, Meehan¹s seven first half points kept his side in touch at the break on a 1-8 to 0-9 scoreline.

The introduction of the injury-plagued Joe Bergin in the second-half looked to be an inspired one, as the Kerry defence struggled to cope with the imposing forward. Indeed it was a deft touch from Bergin that found the back of the net that swayed the game in the favour of the Connacht champions.

With a quarter of the match remaining, Galway found themselves a point ahead but from there, Kerry showed why this team had been such hot favourites going into this year¹s championship.

Experienced marksmen Colm Cooper and Declan O¹Sullivan led the charge and Kerry tagged on six points without reply. Meehan and Padraig Joyce eventually added to the Galway tally but the reigning All Ireland champions found themselves in a commanding five-point lead entering injury-time.

Darragh Ó Sé and Matthew Clancy did exchange scores before the final whistle, but Joe McQuillan brought this thrilling encounter to a close with the scores standing at Kerry 1-21 1-16 Galway.

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