Galway Advertiser 1990/1990_08_09/GA_09081990_E1_020.pdf 

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Finnerty the Star of Star
G A L W A Y 1-16 O F F A L Y 2-7

After a superb All Ireland semi-final victory such as this it is usually easy to select a man of the match. It was the biggest bone of contention on the way home. They tell me the Sunday Game selected the swashbuckl ing style of the swarthy Gerry mclnerney. Many would have concurred but I'd prefer him to be more direct.
Joe Cooney too with his slide-rule accuracy in pass ing and his great tally of 0-8 (3 from frees) might qualify. Noel Lane, though he didn't score, played the game like the thoroughbred hurler he is, cooling it down despite some severe provocation, laying on the scores in his now paternal way, the only survivor of I960. Enna Ryan for his kicked goal (Johnny Tobin watch out) and his general industry, something that can also be applied to the Hopper himself, the man McGrath from Sarsfields, either of the two midfielders Michael Coleman, now a consummate hurler of class and F i t Malone who as I wrote last week, never lets Galway down on the big day. Add in Peter Finnerty and Tony Ready and you have my stars of the day, a day on which Offaly were trounced from start to finish. Keady. In the Connacht Final Val Daly was the easi ly selected hero with Padraic Fallon no. 2. After much consideration my award--the Sam Man of the Match -- goes to Finnerty. From start to finish he was supreme This great servant of Galway hurling may not have had the game he had v Cork on that awfully wet day of '85 when only 8,000 brave souls braved the elements. But the maturity, the strength which never sees him descend to the unspor ting and the never say die disposition of the Mullagh man is awe-inspiring. The score Galway 1-16 Offaly 2-7 (half time Galway 1-9 Offa ly 0-3) does not do justice to Galways clear superiority. There was never any need to use the "Galway, Galway, Galway" chant we hear on great occasions when the fight is on. The fight was never on. Offaly smouldered and Mark Corrigan had one of those awful days when nothing went right for him from frees or from play. He had 2 great goal chances and missed both. Even the Offaly supporters lost faith in their team and just behind me in the upper deck of the Hogan stand they berated their heroes with ex clamations like "waken up" or "will ye run" or worst of all "come off". They threw in the towel early.

P e t e r Finnerty--Sams Man of The Match

So there yoy have them Mclnerney, Lane, Cooney, Ryan, McGrath, Coleman, Malone, Finnerty and

(way centre forward

N O E L L A N E resists attempts by the Offaly full back Eugene to journey goalbound

THURLES'86 It wasn't a day to compare in excitement with our first ever championship win over EANNA RYAN corner forward Cork in 75 or the 2 subse quent ones in 1979 or '85 (are Cork you there Paschal silvery haired Spelman?) and despite our manager FT Michael thrashing of Kilkenny in O'Brien an old University Thurles in 1986 that was a mate of mine He was guard win of much more savour ed in his comments but he is because it meant so much a very shrewd man. "We'll more in fact last Sunday's take every day as it comes" coolness and satisfaction was the theme of our conver and a little regret that there sation. It wasn't an inter is no Tipperary to beat in view and one doesn't quote 1990. But that does not mean from friendly conversation that Cork are but I'll be talking to him before the final. My parting underestimated. quip to him was "we have never beaten Cork in an AllFR. MICHAEL Ireland final". So there is O'BRIEN always a first time but it is There is a seat conve important to remember that niently placed outside in the euphoria of last Sun Clonliffe College, (where day's easy win. many of us park our cars), FULLBACK and it is a nice place to wile LINE SHAKY away some time in the sun shine Before the game it E was an ideal meeting place Strange but despite the I for myself and some friends. emphasis of the victory After it was all over wht there were uneasy aspects to should I meet there savour Galway s victory. The full Coughlan ing his own success but the back line was anything but

made good use of his bait to I

steady and will need to be much better to curl the Cork threat. Dermot Fahy is good coming out to the ball and Sean Treacy looked vulnerable and show. Conor Hayes, for all his age and size was missed. Ollie Kilkenny too was unsteady besides. The game too will have helped Mar'^ Naughton. It was nice to~* him back again but he was only a flash of his old self. Still it was great to see him in the maroon and white again. There was a great cheer for Brendan Lynskey when he came on. But though he created one point, he was too often on the ground and his best days are over. Anthony Cunningham threatened well at the start but he must be persevered with. Still its great to have a fight on for places in the team. God be with the old days ir