Galway hammer Wexford in NHL Opener

Galway 1-24
Wexford 0-6

Galway got their defence of the Allianz National Hurling League under way with an emphatic win over an extremely poor Wexford side in Pearse Stadium on Sunday.

Ger Farragher did most of the damage as holders Galway inflicted a facile 1-24 to 0-6 defeat on the Leinster men. The gulf in class between these teams was apparent throughout, with Farragher, Aonghus Callanan, Donal Barry and Eanna Ryan all finding the range on a regular basis as their team won by a whopping 21 points.

And the margin of victory at the finish could have been a whole lot more but for some fine saves from debutant Wexford goalkeeper Niall Breen, who in the first half made three exceptional saves.

Farragher floated over eight first-half points and Galway - who were well below full strength, with 13 players unavailable - led by 0-13 to 0-4 at the break.

The Castlegar man struck three early points and Donal Barry was also on target as the winners led by 0-4 to 0-1 after twelve minutes, with Jim Berry scoring for the Model men. Indeed, Galway lost debutant Joseph Cooney and Cyril Donnellan to injury in that opening period of the game.

Aonghus Callanan was almost through for a Galway goal but his shot was excellently saved by Breen in the Wexford goal, and the net minder was at it again to deny substitute Niall Healy. However, the Wexford custodian couldn't prevent the points from flying over and Galway moved ominously into a 0-7 to 0-3 lead.

The outstanding Farragher helped himself to six points inside the opening half hour and the westerners led by 0-9 to 0-3. As the hosts continued to dominate, Farragher shot two more to leave it 0-13 to 0-4 at the turnaround with the game effectively over as a contest.

The second half commenced as the first half had ended with Farragher immediately adding another Galway minor, and while the small crowd waiting for a Wexford fight back, it never materialised.

The hosts had been threatening a goal all afternoon and it finally arrived courtesy of Aonghus Callanan in the 49th minute to leave fifteen points between the teams - 1-16 to 0-4.

Having hit eleven points, Farragher was substituted (with the score standing at 1-20 to 0-6) and received a standing ovation from an appreciative home crowd in Salthill. Galway added four more points to complete a routine victory, including one from the impressive midfield man Barry, who relished the switch from the half back line.

A dire Wexford side managed just two points from play during the 70 minutes and they even had no luck from a penalty, which goalkeeper Breen struck over the bar on the hour mark.

Galway: C Callanan; D Collins, J Lee, G O'Halloran; A Cullinane (0-1), T Og Regan, G Mahon; D Barry (0-3), D Burke; E Ryan (0-2), C Donnellan, G Farragher (0-11, 7 frees, 3 '65s); A Callanan (1-2), J Cooney, J Coen (0-1). Subs: A Smith (0-1) for Donnellan (7 mins, blood), N Healy (0-3, 2 frees) for Cooney inj (19), D Hayes for Mahon (57), C O'Donovan for O'Halloran (57), B Murphy for Farragher (62), K Kilkenny for Callanan(63).

Wexford: N Breen (0-1, penalty); P Roche, M O'Hanlon, B Hobbs; R Kehoe, D Stamp, C Kenny; C Farrell, B Doyle; PJ Nolan (0-1), T Waters, S Banville (0-1); P Atkinson, K Burke, J Berry (0-3, 2 frees, 1 sideline cut). Subs: H Kehoe for Burke (half-time), K Rossiter for R Kehoe (45 mins), D Redmond for Nolan (53), G Sinnott for Berry (48), E Furlong for Farrell (66).

Referee: J McGrath (Westmeath).