Galway masters hurling side edge past Tipperary in All-Ireland final
If Galway senior manager Micheál Donoghue is looking for experience to match his youthful line-up that reached the previous week’s All-Ireland Final, he could do worse than check out the county’s over-40 set-up who claimed national honours last Saturday.
In Kenny Park, Galway were crowned All-Ireland Masters champions for the first time in 20 years after denying Tipperary a three-in-a-row in Athenry winning out 1-16 to 0-16.
Niall Healy’s goal on 19 minutes was the difference, but this was a quality display from the opening attack even if they had to weather a late storm by the Premier County.Since the Gaelic Masters Association brought back their hurling competition two years ago, both these counties have claimed silverware each campaign; the Tribesmen settled for two Challenge Cups as opposed to Tipperary twice taking the ultimate prize.
And after falling to the same opposition in Killimordaly back in April, it was imperative that Galway started well as Kevin Hynes split the posts from distance inside the opening 60 seconds.Both teams were decorated with previous stars, and Hynes formed a formidable half back line with Andy Coen and former Galway senior captain Fergal Moore. Fergal and Niall Healy, Joe Gantley, Eanna Ryan, Ger Farragher and Tony Óg Regan were other noteworthy names.
Farragher opened his account in the second minute before Tipperary got off the mark through keeper Eoin Brislane, the new Turloughmore manager.Only one point separated them in the first six minutes, but Galway were first to threaten when Hynes’ long ball forced Brislane to deflect it away. Farragher converted the resulting ’65 but a second free for the Tipperary keeper left it 0-3 to 0-2.Galway had the breeze and made it count by the quarter hour with five unanswered points.
Farragher tallied twice; Declan McEvoy, Fergal Healy and Niall Callanan were also on target.It was 0-8 to 0-2 before Pat Shortt got Tipperary’s third placed ball. Both set-ups were making full use of unlimited personnel changes, though injuries to Gantley (hamstring) and Fergal Healy (calf) saw Galway forced into two permanent substitutions.Ryan got his first score on 15 minutes and finished the half with two more. Tipperary finally landed a brace from open play as 2010 All-Ireland Final hat-trick hero Lar Corbett and Hassett reduced arrears to 0-9 to 0-5.Niall Healy then stamped his mark on this All-Ireland Final. With his first touch, he read the long drive from keeper Ciarán Dolan to get in behind the defence for the crucial goal. It spearheaded one last kick from Galway, and they grew that advantage to 1-12 to 0-7 by half-time.
Hassett and Ronan O’Brien got the Tipperary points while Galway’s three came from Ryan (2) and Niall Healy, with Brian Hartnett and Coen doing the spadework.The second half tested Galway’s resilience, but they’d kept an ace up their sleeve with the introduction of Regan. The former county defender turned over multiple attacks while Farragher also dropped back to assist.Tipperary got the opening three scores through Shortt, Tommy Connors and Corbett to trail by just 1-12 to 0-10 on 34 minutes. But Ger ‘Redsar’ O’Grady’s charges only added one more point over the next 22 minutes through O’Brien.
With frees from Farragher (2) and Niall Healy (1), Galway gained a 1-15 to 0-11 cushion, but they finished with 14 men after Coen received a straight red card for an off-the-ball altercation with David Young.Tipperary bounced back as Cathal Gleeson forced Dolan to be alert with a dangerous ball. Shortt (3) and Young brought it back to a three-point ball game. However, Tipperary spurned two opportunities to at least force extra time even if Brislane reduced arrears to 1-15 to 0-16
.Galway were better overall and made sure of the victory when Farragher picked out David Donohue for the final point on 64 minutes. Managed by Liam Donoghue (Micheál’s brother) and Conor Dervan, the maroon and white kept their nerve to hold out for All-Ireland success.
“Great performance from the lads today in a tough game,” stated captain Fergal Healy afterwards. “We knew it was going to be. But great to come out the right side of a game like that.“It’s been hugely enjoyable and a hugely enjoyable campaign on the pitch and off the pitch.“That’s the whole reason we keep playing. It’s a nice bonus to win something here and there definitely. Myself and Farragher would have played together back in 2005. It only feels like yesterday. I played in school with Colm Connaughton back in 1995
“There’s still nothing as enjoyable as going out, togging out and playing as opposed to coaching, managing all that kind of stuff,” added the former Galway minor and under-20 manager.
“If you can give me the pitch and a ball, it’s probably the most comfortable place anyone that plays the game will be. I’d always encourage any of the lads to stay playing as long as the body is willing and able.”
Dolan was superb in goal as were all six defenders including full backs Michael Broderick, Paul Plower and Eamon Cleary. Hartnett was industrious in midfield, with Farragher, McEvoy and Ryan the pick of the starting forwards. Niall Healy and Regan also made significant impacts.
Galway: C Dolan; M Broderick, P Plower, E Cleary; A Coen, K Hynes (0-1), F Moore; B Hartnett, N Callanan (0-1); J Gantley, F Healy (0-1), D McEvoy (0-1); E Ryan (0-3), G Farragher (0-6, 3f, 1 ’65), F Coone.
Subs used: G Hanley, N Healy (1-2, 1f), D McDonagh, T Óg Regan, D Donohue (0-1), T Tierney, E Collins.
Tipperary: E Brislane (0-3, 3f); C Ryan, D Fanning, G Gohery; C Gleeson, D Horan, T Collins; S McGrath, O Quirke; D Young (0-1), N Curran, J Hassett (0-2, 1f); M Stapleton, L Corbett (0-2), S Stapleton.
Subs used: P Shortt (0-5, 4f, 1 ‘65), R O’Brien (0-2), T Connors (0-1), S Lillis, E Kelly, O Shortt.
Referee: J Donnellan (Clare).