Galway Advertiser 2005/2005_09_15/GA_1509_E1_126.pdf 

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126

SPORT

September 15 2005

Not easy but Murphy's minors capture All Ireland
GALWAY 3-13 LIMERICK 0-17 There can be few managers with the success rate as Galway minor hurling manager Mattie Murphy who has now guided Galway to an astonishing fourth All Ireland minor hurling title after he watched his Galway team defeat Limerick and bring the Irish Press Cup to Galway for a seventh time in the ESB All Ireland Minor Hurling final at Croke Park on Sunday last. Of the seven times that Galway have won the title since they first took the years terms. However on Sunday last the expected victory for Mattie Murphy's side did not come as easy as predicted. Limerick had lost to Cork in the Munster final and looked far from impressive in their semifinal victory over Dublin but they came into this game with no inhabitations and threw caution to the wind from once the ball was thrown in. Limerick displayed much more hunger and flair and it took late into the game before Galway eventually shook the Limerick side off their back. In the end it was a case of goals win matches scored a majestic individual effort in the opening half, while Joe Canning rattled the Limerick net early in the second period, but it took a third finish from Galway substitute Thomas Flannery from Padraig Pearses to seal Galway's fate and give the county their seventh All Ireland minor title. The Shannonsiders had taken the lead in the opening minute and through a John Kelly free from distance and although Joe Canning pointed a free after Brian Murphy was fouled, Bryan O'Sullivan and the industrious Eoin Ryan had Limerick two in front after six minutes. However the Galway side who fielded a number of last year's All Ireland winning side slowly began to take control and a long range point from under the Hogan stand from midfielder Kevin Coen was followed by one of the scores of the day when John Greene reached high to catch a free from defence and turned to slot the ball neatly over the bar to bring the game to parity. John Greene was causing problems to the Limerick defence and he combined with Joe Canning twice to sandwich an effort from Bryan O'Sullivan, but when Seamus Hickey pointed the sides were still deadlocked after 18 minutes. Galway eventually looked to have taken control when Conor Kavanagh soloed through the defence and crashed the ball to the Limerick net as Liam Mellows' John Hughes struck over a huge point and when John Greene collected a Paul Loughnane clearance, he set up Sean Glynn to point and put Galway five points clear nine minutes from

Limerick's Daniel Moore fails to stop Galway's Alan Callanan from the All Ireland Minor Hurling final at Croke Park on Sunday. Photo:-Mike Shaughnessy

Galway's Kevin Coen is chased by Limerick's Bryan O'Sullivan from the All Ireland Minor Hurling final at Croke Park on Sunday. Photo:-Mike Shaughnessy

title in 1983, Mattie Murphy has been in charge in two different terms of three years and in his six years in charge has guided Galway to the All Ireland final every year that he has been in charge and has won All Ireland honours for two of the three years that he has been in charge on both of these three

and in Galway's case it they had found the onion sack on three occasions and while often times a goal can mean much more that just the three points to a team, it wasn't until Galway scored their third major that they were able to shake away the Limerick challenge on Sunday. Conor Kavanagh had

the end. Limerick just simply refused to lie down and Eoin Ryan pointed and in the final four minutes of the opening half the Munster side struck for four successive points in as many minutes with a brace each from John Kelly and Eoin Ryan and when the half time whistle sounded the scoreboard saw the sides still deadlocked with the score Galway 1-7 Limerick 0-10. The second half was just minutes old when Joe Canning had crashed the ball to the back of the Limerick net and it looked as if Galway would at last take control but Limerick once again ploughed their

way back and points from wing back and captain Gavin O'Mahony, Don Hanley and Bryan O'Sullivan brought the game to parity for the sixth time with just 20 minutes left on the clock. Galway sideline then decided that remedial action was needed and they made no hesitation in providing sweeping changes that turned the game on its head. Francis Kerrigan was drafted in at midfield and Shane Howley and Thomas Flannery were also brought into the action, while star forward and ace poacher Joe Canning who was making little inroads in the full

forward line was pulled outfield. With his first touch of the ball Francis Kerrigan had driven the ball between the Limerick posts and in his newfound role as provider Joe Canning had set up Sean Glynn for another score. Although Seamus Hickey pulled one back for Limerick, Galway were now playing a more composed game and Conor Kavanagh pointed before Galway's third goal came 10 minutes from the end. Conor Kavanagh had forced Limerick custodian Ger Flynn into a diving save and the ball broke out to Sean Glynn whose effort was also stopped by Flynn,

but the ball remained in the danger area and as Brian Murphy went for the goal and missed, substitute Thomas Flannery was on hand to edge the ball into the Limerick net and from there Galway were never in trouble. Francis Kerrigan and Conor Kavanagh added points to push Galway seven points clear six minutes from the end. Although Eoin Ryan (2) and Bryan O'Sullivan added Limerick points, Keith Kilkenny had the final score as Galway had safely retained the Irish Press Cup. Galway: J Skehill; A Leech, P Loughnane, P Callanan; J Hughes (0-1), C O'Donovan, K Kilkenny (01); A Keary, K Coen (0-1); K Coen, S Glynn (0-2), J Greene (0-1), A Callanan; C Kavanagh (1-1), J Canning (1-3), B Murphy. Subs: F Kerrigan (0-2) for Coen, S Howley for O'Donovan, T Flannery (10) for Callanan, J Gilsen for Murphy, B Kenny for Leech. Limerick: G Flynn; S Brown, L Hurley, T Condon; J Kelly (0-3), D Moloney, G O'Mahoney (01); D Moore, S Hickey (0-2); D Hanley (0-1), J Ryan, B O'Sullivan (0-4); M Ryan, E Ryan (0-6), D O'Sullivan. Subs: G Allis for O'Sullivan, G Collins for Moore, D O'Connor for Allis.Referee: E Morris (Dublin).

The victorious Galway minor squad prior to Sunday's final. Photo: Mike Shaughnessy