All-Ireland MHC Final Galway 3-13 Limerick 0-17: They say you never know with minors. Make them heavy favourites and you definitely don't know. Between the pressure and expectation you may or may not see the real thing - all of which makes Galway the undisputed champions at this grade.
In many ways yesterday's victory in the ESB All-Ireland minor final was marked by Galway's cool hold on their destiny. Limerick made them work hard for it but the underlying feeling throughout was that Galway would win. When it came to the ultimate search for class, they couldn't lose.
Much of that class spilled over from last year's winning team, which beat Kilkenny in one of the best finals of recent times. That buzz still hovered above them. Then they eased past Cork in the semi-final, the team that easily beat Limerick in the Munster championship. Put two and two together and Galway had to win.
"The hype in the county for the last few weeks was just unbelievable," said manager Mattie Murphy, after delivering a fourth All-Ireland minor title to Galway in the six years he's held charge.
"And it was hard to know how much of that would go to their heads. Maybe we still didn't play to our full potential out there, but then a part of that was Limerick not allowing us to."
Their five-point winning margin reflected Galway's enduring potential, yet probably sold Limerick's effort a little short. At two key junctures in the game Galway were poised to break free and win going away. Both times Limerick hauled them back, only for class to raise its head again and allow Galway hold on to the title - their seventh, and sixth of the last 13 years.
Limerick manager Timmy O'Connor can take some consolation for getting everything possible out of his team. After a nervous start by both teams they stole the first initiative, easing two points clear thanks to some fine shooting by Bryan O'Sullivan and their superb midfielder Séamus Hickey.
But Galway's attitude was, so what? With Joe Canning roaming the full-forward line they knew their time would come. At 16 he's young enough for the grade again next year, and his 1-3 contribution yesterday will add to the hype. His first score on 14 minutes, a pure gem from close to the sideline, put Galway in front for the first time, and Limerick never saw any daylight after that.
Conor Kavanagh then eased Galway into top gear with the game's first goal, an inspiring display of determination against three Limerick defenders.
But Limerick's response was slow and calculated, with Eoin Ryan and John Kelly eventually drawing them level in time for the break, 0-10 to Galway's 1-7.
When Canning struck his goal just 60 seconds after the restart it seemed Galway were on the road again, but moments of inspiration from Don Hanley and captain Gavin O'Mahony meant Limerick were level again on 42 minutes.
Galway needed to readjust for the second time, and Murphy's use of substitutes proved decisive. Francis Kerrigan was called in and hit 0-2, and when Tommy Flannery hit Galway's third goal on 53 minutes the victory was there for the tasting.
GALWAY: 1. J Skehill; 2. A Leech, 3. P Loughnane, 4. P Callanan; 5. J Hughes (0-1, a free), 6. C O'Donovan, 7. K Kilkenny (0-1); 8. A Geary (capt), 9. K Coen (0-1); 10. S Glynn (0-2), 11. J Greene (0-1), 12. A Callanan (0-2); 13. C Kavanagh (1-0), 14. J Canning (1-3, one free), 15. B Murphy. Subs: 19. F Kerrigan (0-2) for Coen (41 mins), 20. S Howley for O'Donovan (46 mins), 23. T Flannery (1-0) for A Callanan (48 mins), 24. J Gilsen for Murphy (52 mins), 18. B Kenny for Leech (62 mins).
LIMERICK: 1. G Flynn; 2. S Brown, 3. L Hurley, 4. T Condon; 5. J Kelly (0-3, two frees, one 65), 6. D Moloney, 7. G O'Mahony (capt) (0-1); 8. D Moore, 9. S Hickey (0-2); 10. D Hanley (0-1), 11. J Ryan, 12. B O'Sullivan (0-4); 13. M Ryan, 14. E Ryan (0-6, one free), 15. D O'Sullivan. Subs: 17. G Allis for O'Sullivan (24 mins), 18. G Collins for Moore (50 mins), 23. D O'Connor for Allis (60 mins).
Referee: Eamonn Morris (Dublin).
