Inevitable though it is that the careers of promising hurlers overlap at various points, it is nonetheless notable that two players whose efforts were central in the design of the 1996 All-Ireland minor final should yet again find themselves potential architects in chief for Sunday's showdown in Croke Park. Four Septembers ago, Tipperary's Micheal Ryan - the man handed a startling midfield debut by Nicky English this week - lined out at centrefield for the underage side, partnering Willie Maher.
And Eugene Cloonan, already something of a storied prodigy in the west, was listed at full forward for Galway. His return to the Galway team, after a long period in exile due to suspension, was the main talking point of Mattie Murphy's selection.
The 1996 match was played against a backdrop of frustrating times for the senior counterparts of both sides. Tipperary had twice found themselves penned in Munster by a flying Limerick side and Galway had disappointed in consecutive semi-finals. The talent in both sides pointed, however, to sunnier days ahead.
Tipperary had seized the initiative from the outset and appeared to be cruising towards the title with just over 20 minutes left, having taken a 0-16 to 0-8 lead. Galway, however, utterly reversed the momentum of the match with a goal rush spearheaded by Aidan Poinard, who netted two. But it was Cloonan who was acknowledged as the main source of imagination. Concerted Tipperary efforts to close him down failed, and as well as bagging eight points, he was central to the team's telling moves.
Despite their long period of dominance, it was Tipperary who were bailing water out at the end. They found a way out however, with Mick Kennedy hammering a point on the end of normal time. That left them trailing by one and up stepped Micheal Ryan to nervelessly drill the equaliser as Galway were on the verge of celebration. It was his only score in the game but one that is widely remembered in Tipperary for the calmness of its execution.
The replay was another thriller, with Tipperary overcoming their opponents on a scoreline of 2-14 to 2-12. Neither Ryan nor Cloonan had quite such decisive influences. The Galway marksman was stifled by Fergal Heaney, but nonetheless the attack flowed smoothly. This time, it was Tipperary who had serious thinking to do at the break as they trailed 2-9 to 1-5. Their gloom deepened after it became apparent that Ryan, who picked up an eye injury, would not be fit to continue. Against the odds however, Tipperary orchestrated a comeback. Other names that will feature tomorrow were central figures. Eugene O'Neill displayed impeccable marksmanship, firing 1-7 from placed balls and adding a point from play. Galway manager Noel Lane threw Rory Gantley into the half-forward line to try and spark and ailing attack. Paddy O'Brien, who started for Tipperary in the Munster final earlier in the month, was drafted in as a substitute.
The game ebbed and flowed. O'Brien nearly finished it with a goal chance in the dying minutes. Then, with Tipperary two points up, Cloonan broke free for his first real chance and kicked just wide. Tipperary hung on. Some of the players went the way of all minors. But there will be quite a few survivors from that day seeking new chapters on Sunday. John Carroll and Donnacha Fahey for Tipperary, Nigel Murray and Kerins for Galway.
