NIL DRIVER

0-24 Shefflin full of praise for Evan as Tribe ease to Wexford win

BY

GALWAY boss Henry Shefflin hailed Evan Niland after the Clarinbridge sharpshooter put Wexford to the sword in this Leinster SHC opener at Pearse Stadium.

Niland (below) landed 0-13, seven of them from play, as Galway recovered from a dreadful start to get their campaign up and running.

“We’re normally talking about Evan scoring frees, aren’t we? He just popped up into good positions,” said Shefflin. “Evan is a top class player. To be fair, he has put in phenomenal work over the years. I think he’s a lot fitter this year.

“He had a bit of an injury last year and I think he has just responded very well. Delighted for him.

“He knows himself he’ll need to work hard and continue to work hard. That’s the ask we’ll be having of him and the rest of the players. He took his scores very well.”

Galway’s margin of victory would have been much greater had they not hit 14 wides against a disappointing Wexford side.

The Model, despite late injury withdrawals by centre-back Damien Reck and captain Lee Chin, got a glorious start with two goals inside four minutes to rattle a Galway side who had got off the mark after just 45 seconds when corner-back TJ Brennan soloed forward.

A high ball from the right from Liam Og Mcgovern got a touch from Conor Mcdonald as Galway goalkeeper Eanna Murphy advanced to send it to the net.

And then when Rory O’connor dispossessed Jack Grealish with a hefty shoulder charge, he set up Mcgovern and the St Anne’s player finished low into the left corner of the net.

Galway were clearly rattled but two points from play from Niland and one from Brian Concannon settled them and cut the gap to 2-0 to 0-4 after eight minutes.

Mcgovern got Wexford’s first point after 10 minutes and, after Kevin Cooney and Ronan Glennon pointed for Galway, the visitors hit three on the trot with a couple of frees from Rory O’connor and one from Cathal Dunbar to make it 2-4 to 0-6 after 26 minutes. Wexford managed just one more before the break as Galway responded with four points from Niland before Conor Cooney sent them in all square at the break at 0-11 to 2-5.

Cathal Mannion and Conor Whelan pointed within a minute of the restart and while Rory O’connor responded for Wexford, the Tribesmen hit the next four to lead by 0-17 to 2-6 after 43 minutes.

Then Wexford got a lifeline when Mcgovern was hauled down by Galway captain Daithi Burke but Mcdonald’s penalty was poorly hit and Galway goalkeeper Eanna Murphy saved it with ease.

Galway hit back with three rapid points from Brian Concannon, Conor Cooney and Niland with his sixth from play to open up a 0-20 to 2-6 lead after 47 minutes.

Wexford never looked like staging a comeback after that as Galway eased their way to victory without ever hitting top gear and Shefflin will now turn his attention to facing his native Kilkenny next weekend.