Goal-shy Galway reliant on deadly accurate Cathal Mannion
Against Kilkenny, Dublin and Wexford in this year's Leinster championship Galway managed just three goal chances, while their opposition combined for a total of 19.
Despite winning two of those three games en route to this afternoon's Leinster hurling decider against Kilkenny - Galway conceded eight goals and scored just the one. That sole green flag came against Wexford in added time to give the Tribesmen an eight-point lead.
Ultimately when they face the Cats again at Croke Park, Galway will need to create more goal chances and concede much fewer if they are to reverse the 12 point-deficit in April.
Kilkenny scored three of half a dozen chances in that comfortable first-round victory in Nowlan Park on a day when the visitors failed to create even one half goalscoring chance.
In their victories over Wexford and Dublin, the Tribesmen scored one goal from three chances. Those two missed chances were both easily saved from tight angles under extreme defensive pressure and they were rather fortunate to concede just five goals from 13 chances.
While Galway have been short on goals they haven't lacked for points - raising by far the most white flags of any county prior to the provincial finals.
That tallies 131 in five matches, and in those three games they managed 79 points compared to 55 from the other teams combined.
Central to that has been Cathal Mannion. The Ahascragh-Fohenagh forward has scored 2-43 in four games, with 1-28 from placed balls and 1-15 from play. In the county's three biggest tests to date against Kilkenny, Dublin and Wexford he scored a total of 0-35.
The 2015 All Star has been in sensational scoring form for his team and in those three encounters his scores and assists have accounted for 54% of his team's total. The 2017 All-Ireland winner has assisted 0-08 as well as winning two of the frees he converted himself.
His other start came against Offaly when he scored 2-08, assisted 0-05 and was fouled for two of the three frees he floated over the bar.
In his four Leinster outings this season, the 30-year old has scored or assisted 56% (2-56) of his team's combined scoring. If he'd featured in the 28-point demolition of Antrim his numbers would be off the charts.
Mannion's scoring is all the more impressive when you consider his shooting accuracy. From 24 in-play shots so far this championship he has scored 1-15.
He has worn the free-taking responsibility lightly. In his maiden campaign at inter-county level with placed-ball duties, Mannion has scored almost 81% from his 36 attempts in Leinster, with five of his seven misses coming from his own half.
Looking at the three games against Kilkenny, Dublin and Wexford in isolation he has scored 24 of 27 attempts, showing not only an impressive range, which was to be expected given his scoring ability from general play, but also an excellent temperament under pressure.
On average (in-play) Mannion has been directly involved in over 10 scoring opportunities per game.
In total he is averaging six shots and just under 0-05 from play per game, almost 0-8 from placed balls, and 0-03 in assists per match so far in the 2025 championship.
While Mannion's form will give Galway fans hope, the reliance on him is a cause for concern.
One of Galway's biggest scorers in recent seasons, St Thomas' Conor Cooney has started four of his team's five games off the bench. Along with his 11 points (nine frees) when starting against Antrim, in those three substitute appearances he has amassed 1-03 from play making him the highest scoring substitute so far in the Leinster championship.
While eight Kilkenny hurlers have contributed to their team's scoring as replacements, only three Galway players have.
Nevertheless in a tight encounter, if Micheál Donoghue again opts against starting the 2017 All Star, he could prove the difference maker when introduced.
It was Cooney who scored his team's only goal in the games against Kilkenny, Dublin or Wexford.
However, even if Cooney provides a similar impact off the bench and Mannion continues his free-scoring form - Galway will need a huge slice of fortune to win any game when conceding so many goal chances and creating so few.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Louth boss Brennan on not getting the rub of the green with referee decisions
Ger Brennan says he's twice seen his Louth outfit on the receiving end of decisions against sides - but he's confident that won't happen against Donegal at Ballybofey tomorrow with Barry Cassidy in charge. Derry official Cassidy will take charge of the MacCumhaill Park All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final tie with the winner going to Croke Park next weekend and the loser's season over. Brennan, speaking to LMFM, outlined that Louth's Division 2 loss to Donegal last year at Ballyshannon and their All-Ireland group stage defeat by Kerry at Portlaoise later that season were games he felt the Wee County were hard done by. The match official for the Donegal game was Roscommon's Paddy Neilan, while the Kerry game was refereed by Conor Lane of Cork. 'I certainly rarely would whinge about referee's decisions as players have to be accountable for their own errors first and foremost and referees are only human,' said Brennan. 'There were certainly a lot of hometown decisions awarded in that league game in Ballyshannon last year. 'In looking towards this game in Ballybofey, in one way it's interesting that a Derry referee has been appointed to look after the game. 'But when I heard it's Barry Cassidy, you are confident with someone with Barry Cassidy's experience that he is not going to be overawed consciously or subconsciously by the Ballybofey crowd and that he will give Louth a fair crack of the whip. 'Again, I think I have a bit of credit built up in the bank over the last couple of seasons by not giving out about referees. 'When Louth played Kerry last year in the group stages of the All-Ireland, we were competitive. 'We were pushing hard and it's almost as if referees subconsciously - and people outside the group of Louth senior footballers - they can't believe that Louth are being so competitive and this shouldn't happen. 'And all of a sudden some big game decisions are going against you, or the opposition are getting away with rougher challenges, which Louth players are being punished for. 'I suppose I've seen that on two occasions in particular in my time so far with Louth, last year with Kerry in the group stages of the All-Ireland and certainly in the second half last year in Ballyshannon. 'But again, happy to see you have someone with Barry Cassidy's experience, that he is not going to be influenced by the Donegal sideline and Donegal supporters and that he's going to give Louth and the Donegal players a fair crack of the whip.'
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Cercene provides Joe Murphy and Gary Carroll with first Group One success in Coronation
One of Irish racing's stalwart partnerships, trainer Joe Murphy and jockey Gary Carroll, tasted Group One success for the first time in their careers when Cercene belied 33/1 odds to land Friday's Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot . Murphy described it as the culmination of half a century of work after Cercene rallied when headed by the French favourite Zarigana inside the final furlong to win by half-a-length. Back in third was Aidan O'Brien's January while stretched further back were blue-blooded runners form some of racing's powerhouse operations. The diminutive Cercene had already belied her relatively meagre €50,000 purchase price by finishing third to Lake Victoria in the Irish Guineas. READ MORE Having held a license since 1977, Murphy's ability to make the most of his relatively small Co Tipperary string was well established. It might even have made Cercene's SP something of an insult. But the pluck to take on such an elite challenge paid off in style. A former dual-champion apprentice, Carroll (35) had previously enjoyed a couple of Royal Ascot wins for Gavin Cromwell. He recently got a boost with the likelihood of more rides for Ger Lyons on the back of Colin Keane's Juddmonte appointment. His abilities got the perfect shop window here as despite a slow start he got Cercene into a good position on the rail and was strong in the finish. His use of the whip, reportedly using it eight times, could yet prove costly in fines, but the satisfaction of a first top-flight victory was obvious. 'I've been riding a long time now and been placed in plenty of Group Ones. This is my first one and if I was ever to ride a Group One winner it was for Joe Murphy,' he said. 'I've been riding for him since I was a 7lb claimer and he's been very good to me so I'm delighted I can repay him.' Cercene, ridden by Gary Carroll, winning the Coronation Stakes on day four at Royal Ascot. Photograph:for Ascot Racecourse The wait was even longer for the trainer who commented: 'This is 50 years of work, of love and care, and all for the owners we have, all our people. It's just a whole group of people together. This is heaven on earth. 'It's a lifetime's ambition to have a Group One winner. She's by Australia – a sire I love – and her half-brother (Perotto) won the Britannia so the pedigree was there: if she was an inch bigger, I wouldn't have her!' Another Irish trainer hitting the board this week was Willie Mullins , who landed the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap with Ethical Diamond under Ryan Moore. The 3/1 favourite was Mullins' 11th Royal Ascot success. 'We will give him a little break and look at York, that is normally where we go from here. The Ebor would look possible. We would love to go to Melbourne. If we can get him qualified, that would be wonderful. We might see if we can get him Group-placed. I think he would suit the race,' he said. Ireland's tally for the week to date is nine winners with Aidan O'Brien saddling five of them. The best Irish haul ever at the meeting was 12 in 2022 with eight trainers contributing. Friday's other Group One, the Commonwealth Cup, also went to an outsider as the 25/1 Time For Sandals edged out the Irish hope Arizona Blaze. It was a second top-level victory of the week for trainer Harry Eustace who landed the Queen Anne with Docklands. Venetian Sun was described by Karl Burke as the best juvenile filly he's trained after an authoritative Albany Stakes success. 'I think Venetian Sun is a very special filly. The work she has done at home over the last six weeks – I haven't had a two-year-old filly work like that. She has been kicking all the Group horses out of the way,' Burke said.
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Cork and Mayo will lock heads in winner takes all clash in All-Ireland Ladies SFC
Cork must overcome Mayo to reach the knockout stages of the 2025 TG4 All-Ireland LGFA senior football championship. Lose and go home, it is as simple as that for Joe Carroll and the Cork LGFA seniors in Castlebar on Saturday afternoon. Hastings Insurance MacHale Park hosts Mayo and Cork's final TG4 All-Ireland SFC Group 2 clash (3pm throw-in) where the permutations are not straightforward. The winners will advance with Kerry to the knockout stages. The vanquished will see their senior campaign ended for another year. Yet, should a draw occur, the strange LGFA ruling of whoever kicks the most points on matchday in Castlebar will decree who goes on. Scoring difference will only come into play if Mayo and Cork are level at full-time and have both registered the same number of points during the tie. Read More Cork dual star Looney frustrated with forced choice of code As expected, both teams lost their respective senior championship group openers to the reigning All-Ireland champions. Mayo put in a decent effort before going down 0-13 to 1-4 in Austin Stack Park at the beginning of June. As for the Rebels, it was a proverbial game of two halves when Kerry visited SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh last weekend. The fast-starting hosts led 2-6 to 1-3 at the short whistle thanks, in part, to Katie Quirke and Áine Terry O'Sullivan's green flags. Kerry's second half display was in stark contrast to their first as Mark Bourke's side blitzed Cork for 4-4 and cantered to a 5-7 to 2-9 victory. Joe Carroll's first year in charge of the Cork seniors has delivered promotion from Division Two. An important achievement considering a new manager, backroom team and fresh-faced debutantes are involved. Subsequent TG4 Munster championship defeats to Kerry and Waterford were disappointing and resulted in Cork failing to qualify for this year's provincial final. Mayo's season has been equally turbulent with Liam McHale's side relegated from Division One off the back of one victory and six losses. A narrow three-point win over Leitrim preceded consecutive defeats to Galway in this year's TG4 Connacht SFC. Ahead of Saturday's must-win clash, McHale has made three changes to the starting line-up that lost to Kerry. Lynda Hanley, Aoife Geraghty and Clodagh Keane all start. Knockmore star, Keane, will be key to Mayo's chances having impacted off the bench when placed on the edge of the square against both Galway and Kerry. As for Cork, Joe Carroll's solitary change involves Emma Cleary replacing Katie Horgan in half-forward line. In terms of potential match winners, Katie Quirke has been one of her county's most influential performers this year. Cork should emerge with a hard-earned victory if the Bride Rovers star, Abbie O'Mahony, Áine Terry O'Sullivan, Laura O'Mahony, Sarah Leahy, Shauna Kelly and Melissa Duggan perform to optimum levels.
