Galway Advertiser 1981/1981_09_10/GA_10091981_E1_014.pdf 

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kaiwayko-veriiser.

10th

September]

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SAM MAGUIRE'S CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDABOUT

WAS THIS A BAD DREAM, GRAND LARCENY OR THE GIVEAWAY O F THE CENTURY?
t o p G a l w a y got 2 m o r e goals It s e e m e d like a b a d t o lead t h e m . L e a d i n g by d r e a m . I c o u l d n ' t be t r u e . 3--5 t o 1--8 at half time. Victory w a s within our S e c o n d half it was nip a n d g r a s p s . J u s t a few m o r e t a c k for a l o n g p e r i o d b u t m i n u t e s a n d w e ' d have put 2 gradually Kilkenny took titles b a c k t o b a c k . As g o o d o v e r c o n t r o l a n d w o n in t h e c h a m p i o n s s h o u l d . If only e n d by 1 -- 2 0 t o 3--9. C e n t r e we c o u l d stretch t h a t 4 half b a c k a n d c a p t a i n G e r p o i n t s lead. It seemed we'd F a l l o n tried t o rally his t e a m hold o n . T h e n Pat D e l a n e y , b u t fouled b y t a k i n g t h e ball Offaly's tall centre half i n t o his h a n d twice while o n back, snapped up a weak a rallying s o l o - r u n . Even clearance a n d scored a real star goalkeeper Tommy b o o s t e r of a p o i n t . Only 3 C o e n was clearing o v e r the ' p o i n t s in it a n d Offaly b e g a n sideline instead of relieving to scent t h a t the u n b e l i e v a pressure. It was a ble was o n . With 5 m i n u t e s d i s a p p o i n t m e n t b u t t h e big to go veteran Johnny o n e was still t o c o m e . After F l a h e r t y g o t a p o i n t t o leave t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n of t h e Irish 2 in it. T h e n with 3 m i n u t e s Press C u p t o t h e Kilkenny to go came Johnny c a p t a i n Eddie K e n n e d y we Flaherty's winning goal. h a d t o suffer n o w usual l a p Offaly o n e p o i n t u p a n d o n of h o n o u r by t h e w i n n i n g song. G a l w a y n o w d e s p o n d m i n o r s . T h e r e is n o t h i n g ent t w o m o r e Offaly p o i n t s . h a r m f u l in this b u t it is n o t a A final chance for G a l w a y t r a d i t i o n . I'd prefer t o be beaten off. T h e n t h a t awful w i t h o u t it. final whistle. Like every G a l w a y m a n at the g a m e , at TUMULTUOUS h o m e a n d a b r o a d , I felt CHEERING shattered. W i t h o u t w o r d s . A n d t h e n t h e seniors were C r o k e P a r k was a sea of out to a tumultous green white a n d gold. W e deafening a p p l a u s e . T h i s were watching history was the big one. T h e t h r o u g h a misty c l o u d as if in d i s a p p o i n t m e n t of t h e a haze. W a s it a d r e a m ? O r m i n o r loss w a s f o r g o t t e n . grand larceny? Or the G a l w a y ' s seemingly endless giveaway of the c e n t u r y ? line of s u b s t i t u t e s m a d e their w a y t o t h e d u g o u t (is it T H E FINAL S C O R E necessary t o h a v e 17 subs.?) Offaly 2 -- 1 2 G a l w a y 0--15 T h e A r t a n e Boys B a n d were (H.T. Offaly 1--4, G a l w a y playing as well as ever. 0--13 P h o t o g r a p h s , a n d before we DETAILS k n o w it the m a r c h a r o u n d is o n a n d t h e C a n a l E n d is The attendance at C r o k e a g o g with flags. N o t since P a r k last S u n d a y , 71,384, A r m a g h t o o k over the C a n a l was t h e biggest at a n All E n d v D u b l i n in 1977 h a v e I Ireland S . H . C . final since seen s o m a n y flags. It was a '63 w h e n 73,123 p a s s e d s m a s h i n g scene. T h e r e is n o t h r o u g h t h e turnstiles t o see t i m e in the y e a r I like b e t t e r Kilkenny b e a t W a t e r f o r d . t h a n this. A n d when your This was only t h e f o u r t h o w n c o u n t y is involved it is t i m e since 1960 t h a t a n even better. A n d when a t t e n d a n c e in e x c e s s of A m h r a i n n a Bhfiann b e g a n 70,000 h a s been r e p o r t e d , a n d t h e c r o w d s a n g in the o t h e r s being: u n i s o n o n e k n e w why this 1962, 75,039 T i p p . bt. m o m e n t a b o v e all identifies Wexford. 1963, 73123 y o u as a n I r i s h m a n . I never Kilkenny bt. Waterford. 1964, 71,282 T i p p . bt. Kilkenny. First Half: Offaly, G l s . 1, Pts. 4, 70's 1, F r e e s 4, W i d e s 7. G a l w a y G l s . 0, Pts. 13, 70's 1, F r e e s 6, W i d e s 5. S e c o n d Half: Offaly, G l s . 1, Pts. 8, 70's 0, Frees 7, W i d e s 9. G a l w a y G l s . 0, Pts. 2 , 7 0 ' s 1, Frees 1, Wides 14. T o t a l : Offaly: G l s . 2, Pts. 12,70's 1, F r e e s 1 1 , W i d e s 16. G a l w a y Gls. 0, Pts 15,70's 2, Frees 7, W i d e s 19. Croke Park looked resplendent when the Galway minors raced o n t o it. M a r o o n a n d white w a s t o be seen e v e r y w h e r e . T h e a t m o s p h e r e was marvellous with t h e p l a c e filling in quickly and Galway going i n t o a n early g o a l lead. T h e n Kilkenny began to dominate t o lead a g a i n . It was see saw stuff -- a great m i n o r final a n d j u s t w h e n it s e e m e d t h a t Kilkenny were g e t t i n g o n Iggy C l a r k e w h o was forced to d e l a y t a k i n g a " 6 5 " while the " i n t r u d e r " carrying a b o t t l e w a s b e i n g o r d e r e d off by referee F r a n k M u r p h y . W e s h o u l d leave n o t h i n g t o c h a n c e a n d we s h o u l d never m a k e o u r o w n task a n y m o r e difficult. I'm all for the Ashling Hotel in D u b l i n and c o n s i d e r it G a l w a y ' s G . A . A . h o m e in D u b l i n . But is it the ideal place for a t e a m t o stay in p r i o r t o a n All Ireland final? N o t at all. It is t o o accessible to followers. So is the Clarence Hotel where the minors stayed a n d the s e n i o r a year a g o . I'm a great believer in leaving n o t h i n g to chance and putting your t e a m u n d e r as little p r e s s u r e as possible. T h e p e o p l e w h o a r e used t o w i n n i n g All I r e l a n d s like C o r k h u r l e r s , Kerry footballers and i n d e e d T i p p e r a r y h u r l e r s of o l d c o u l d t e a c h us a lesson h e r e . T h e y always stay in a secret r e n d e z e v o u s o u t s i d e t h e city c e n t r e p r i o r t o a n All Ireland final. It d o e s n ' t matter where you stay afterwards o r a n y o t h e r time for t h a t m a t t e r . Finally w h a t is it in o u r Galway m a k e u p that makes us so v u l n e r a b l e ? A r e we t o o nice? H a v e we t o o m u c h pity for t h e o t h e r guy w h e n he is down? We are becoming easy m e a t as o p p o n e n t s in finals. W e h a v e lost 6 of o u r last 7 s e n i o r finals a n d I think that puts what I'm w r i t i n g in perspective. W o u l d C o r k h a v e let Offaly u p off t h e floor? R e m e m b e r this y e a r ' s N . H . L . final when Cork literally d e s t r o y e d Offaly in the first 10 m i n u t e s of the g a m e . N o mercy t h e r e . O r a n y k i n d of s e n t i m e n t . It w a s C o r k first and always. W e must adopt t h e C o r k a p p r o a c h o r else we will b e c o m e k n o w n as the t r a d i t i o n a l giant-killers w h o a r e a soft t o u c h in finals (football o r h u r l i n g ) . H a r d w o r d s p e r h a p s at this t i m e b u t w o r d s t h a t m u s t b e said. I ' m a very p r o u d G a l w a y m a n . I love t h e m a r o o n a n d w h i t e a n d I will follow G a l w a y til t h e d a y I die b u t I ' m g e t t i n g tired of t r o o p i n g d o w n disconsolately from the H o g a n stand after watching great Galway t e a m s lose All I r e l a n d ' s they should have won. Last y e a r ' s win is cherished all the m o r e n o w of c o u r s e b u t it is poor reward for a t r e m e n d o u s t e a m which has given a n e w d i m e n s i o n t o t h e g a m e of h u r l i n g since first hitting t h e big t i m e in 1975. OFFALY DREAM A n d yet o n e couldn't begrudge Offaly their success. H e r e they were w i n n i n g at t h e first a t t e m p t a r a final. It was great t o b e present w a t c h i n g s o m e t h i n g

Noel Lane shoots fail t o shiver a little d u r i n g these p r e c i o u s m o m e n t s a n d I w o u l d n ' t s w o p this feeling for a n y t h i n g . I a m p r o u d of the G . A . A . my c o u n t y a n d m y o w n c o u n t r y even in these s a d d a y s w h e n so m a n y foul d e e d s in o u r l a n d besmirch our country's n a m e at h o m e a n d a b r o a d . Isn't it great t o h a v e h u r l i n g a n d t o h a v e t w o different sets of s u p p o r t e r s freely mix o n t h e t e r r a c e s w i t h o u t hint o r t r a c e of violence? T h a n k f u l l y with t h e d e m i s e of D u b l i n football h a s c o m e t h e e n d of t e r r a c e t h u g g e r y hopefully. A s C o n H o u l i h a n ( E v e n i n g Press) w r o t e " T h e b a n t e r in t h e c r o w d was friendly -- a n d t h e r e was a b o u t a s m u c h d a n g e r of violence o n the t e r r a c e s as of a s h o w e r of s n o w " . W e a t h e r conditions were perfect. A n d before y o u k n e w it t h e p r e l i m i n a r i e s were o v e r a n d F r a n k M u r p h y of C o r k h a d got t h e g a m e u n d e r way. STRANGE GAME It w a s a s t r a n g e g a m e . G a l w a y settled early, were halted by a n Offaly goal after a very t o u g h b o u t of h a r d p u l l i n g in t h e right c o r n e r . Offaly w o u l d be n o p u s h o v e r . A n d t h e n it all s t a r t e d t o g o right for Galway. Steve Mahon o p e n e d his b r o a d s h o u l d e r s as h e only c a n like M a t t i e M c D o n a g h of o l d . Michael Connolly was equally good. Noel L a n e a n d J o e C o n n o l l y were best of t h e a t t a c k . W h a t a beautiful h u r l e r is Lane. Pat Fleury was sticking as close t o Bernie F o r d e as P a t H e r b e r t . P o o r Bernie is still p a y i n g for his brilliance in last y e a r ' s final. But despite all t h e s t r o k e s a c r o s s his b o d y he still c o n t i n u e s t o play t h e ball w h e n I s a w h i m t h a t n i g h t in

goalwards.

Galway's goalkeeper Tommy Coen in action.

that the Green Isle Hotel (no one believes s p o r t i n g a gash t h a t r e q u i r e d D a m i e n ) . I q u e r i e d h i m o n 6 stitches I a d m i r e d t h e Noel L a n e ' s s h o t . W a s it m a n ' s c o u r a g e a n d s p o r t s struck h a r d o r easy? " I f a m a n s h i p all t h e m o r e . H e s h o t is s t r u c k from 50 y a r d s , n e v e r flinches o r l o o k s for you'll h a v e time t o j u d g e its n o t i c e . J u s t keeps b a t t l i n g s t r e n g t h o r w e a k n e s s b u t when it is struck from close on. And when John range you dont remember Connolly broke through a n y t h i n g a b o u t it. Y o u r a n d was b l o w n for a foul as reflexes w o r k o r they d o n ' t . he scored a goal w h e n If y o u let t h e ball in y o u ' l l colliding with Offaly r e m e m b e r it ok. F o r t u n a t e l y goalkeeper Damien Martin n o o n e w o r r i e d u n d u l y . for us I saved i t " . Offaly took heart from this G a l w a y were r a m p a n t -- a magnificent save a n d went t e a m of all t h e skills. It s e e m e d t h e n j u s t before half- after victory getting it in the fairytale R o y of the R o v e r s time that they would tear fashion I have already Offaly a p a r t . But Offaly described. k e p t fighting, scoring t h e o d d p o i n t . Half-time s a w QUESTIONS G a l w a y c o a s t i n g with a 6 In the m o n t h s a h e a d we will p o i n t s lead. T h e r e w e r e n o have plenty of t i m e t o o m i n o u s signs a n d d o w n analyse the defeat. Video underneath the Hogan r e p l a y s will r e c o u n t it all S t a n d G a l w a y faces w e r e t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t y . But confident l o o k i n g . N o o n e a c o u p l e of t h o u g h t s strike h i n t e d at defeat. S e a m u s me now and I must pose the Leydon, the former star following q u e s t i o n s . footballer said t o m e as I W h y did J o h n C o n n o l y m a d e m y way b a c k t o m y and brother Joe change seat " I h o p e they d o n ' t g o t o p o s i t i o n s so often? T h i s sleep n o w " . T h e r e m a r k tactic b o o m e r a n g e d t o a d i d n ' t w o r r y me a l t h o u g h I degree a n d helped t o create a k n e w h o w inconsitient we h e r o o u t of Offaly's Pat c a n be a n d h o w we c a n at D e l a n e y w h o grew in s t a t u r e times lack t h e killer instinct. with each i n t e r - c h a n g e after THE SECOND HALF earlier d o m i n a t i o n b y J o e The second half was Connolly. s t r a n g e r still. M y m a i n W a s F r a n k B u r k e the best m e m o r y of t h e s e c o n d half is r e p l a c e m e n t for F i n b a r r of the m a n y wides (14 in all) G a n t l e y in t h e s e c o n d half? a n d these included s o m a n y F r a n k lost his feet w h e n in n e a r misses. O u r f o r w a r d s possesion m u c h t o o often t o o k t o o m u c h o u t of t h e a n d s e e m e d s h o r t of basic ball instead of s h o o t i n g . m a t c h p r a c t i c e . T o his credit G a l w a y led b y 4 p o i n t s for t h o u g h he m a n a g e d t o s c o o p far t o o l o n g . Its n o t a lot in a ball beautifully t o P. J . h u r l i n g . A n d this is w h e r e I Molloy from a p r o s t r a t e began the report. I must position shortly after m e n t i o n t h e m a s t e r l y save of coming on. D a m i e n M a r t i n from Noel W h y d i d we have t o have Lane. I met Damien a f t e r w a r d s as he m a d e his so m a n y i n t r u s i o n s from m e n t o r s ? Clearly o n e of way to the team bus. " I k n e w we'd win it all a l o n g " these c o u l d n ' t h a v e h e l p e d