Galway Advertiser 1979/1979_08_09/GA_09081979_E1_002.pdf 

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This was one of Galway's sweetest hurling victories. Hardly as exciting as the 1975 win over Cork at the same stage b u t more convincing. And as Con Houlihan wrote in Monday nights' Evening Press. "This was an even sweeter victory than that shattering defeat of Cork in '75 because if that was a surprise, this was a sensation. Four years ago Galway came into the semi-final with excellent credentials: they had won the League most convincingly a few months before -- and Cork were still only struggling back towards the topmost plateau. On this occasion Cork were the Triple-crowned champions seeking their fourth All Ireland in a row: Galway had been humiliated by an inexperienced Tipperary side in the League final..."

One of Galway's sweetest Hurling victories
by "Sam Maguire"

don't want to lose two finals in a row and let us not forget they beat us in last year's semi-final.

WHAT OF CORK Like the great sportsmen best championship game for they are Cork took their all previous championship meetings between the sides. years. Joe McDonagh, too, beating and wished Galway was a new man - shades of well. Meeting Jimmy Barry In all Galway have met Cork the drawn game in Pairc Ui Murphy after the game on 21 occasions in S.H.C. Chaoimh in 1976. I must sporting a gash over the left clashes. Last Sunday was confess to having doubts eye that required 6 stitches Galway's second ever success about Andy Fenton before he was loud in praise of over Cork and the second the game. This was his best Galway and hoped they time Cork have ever been beaten in a S.H.C. semi-final game in a Galway jersey. But would go the whole road. the player who really set Cork have had a great (Paschal Spelman please himself apart was Silke innings with this team' and note! ). Now you'll begin to especially as the game wore rest easy with your tears: get an idea of the major on. The way he burst they will win again. We in achievement it was. But I'm through attackers to clear Galway have won two All not so naive as to suggest lastily was inspiring. He is Ireland semi-finals since that the All Ireland is now still not back to his '75 1953. So allow us a big smile Galway's shades of '75. We brilliance but that form is these days. must not do the dirty work returning. for K i l k e n n y . Much improvement is needed if the THE MINORS elusive All Ireland is to be IMPROVEMENT NEEDED The minors didn't give us ours. There were times last Now that the victory is much hope for the future Sunday when Galway almost being accepted let us look and in fact they didn't help let the game slip from their ahead with trepidation. the m o o d of Galway's grasp. When P. J. Molloy's Kilkenny have more than a RESULTS supporters at all. But this booted effort hit the post 50-50 chance of winning. SENIOR was a superb Cork minor a f t e r he had b e a t e n Let us not kid ourselves. Galway team and I won't be 2-14 everybody I thought of what They have new faces. They Cork surprised if Willie Cashman 1-13 I wrote last week and the may even be team-building (No. 2), Denis Walsh (No. 8) MINOR dreaded curse seemed to still. But the newcomers are and Robert Hegarty (No. 12) Cork 6-15 come alive again. Then when all men of minor and u-21 replace the ageing Cork Galway 0-6 John Connolly's penalty was All Ireland winning teams of senior stars in the years saved and the subsequent the recent past. They have ahead. It's hard to finish. FIGURES OF GAME "65" wided I was convinced no fears of the big day. Still . . . It would appear that we would be as usual the Kilkenny are the Kerry of many Corkmen -- and gallant losers we have so hurling. They too can INTER ALIA women and children -- were often been in the past. The i n t r o d u c e their Mick I'm off on holidays for awaiting the All-Ireland team to be ignored by Finbarr Gantley (great goal). final, for yesterday's "semi", opponents, sports writers, played in dry but overcast Ballinderreen and very few even our own supporters. few. These were the people conditions, drew only a Cork followers travelled at But then all came right after who remained loyal even paltry 12,315 toCrokePark. all. How come the Galway P.J. Molloy made the wise after that terrible day in Thias was 3,984 fewer than public lost faith in this great decision to take a free Limerick. And they were all last year, when Kilkenny, team of ours. Let's just instead of John Connolly. needed to add momentum or Galway's opponents in the compare the attendances for Too much of the onus for voice to the Galway Galway final on September 2, the last t w o meetings winning had been falling on Galway chart which helped toppled the Tribesmen by between the teams at this Connolly's tremendously t o k e e p t h e players 4-20 to 4-13. well built frame. Now he wa~ stage: 1975 - over 27,000; motivated in times of stress. free to inspire again and so 1977 - 22,693; This year FIRST HALF he did when he laid on the 12,315. LONG INTRO GALWAY: pass for Finbarr Gantley's I suppose one could This has been a long Gls. - 0 ; Pts. - 9; 70's - 1; goal. This was the spur that advance t h e succesive intro. Lets get into the Ws - 9; Frees - 5 . kept Cork at bay. It gave let-downs even as recent as action so to speak. What is it CORK" Galway breathing space. this year's Railway Cup and that has made this team such Gls. - 0; Pts. - 6; 70's - 2; N.H.L. finals. Still many Then Frank Burke really a superior outfit to last Ws - 6; Frees - 9. opened up his broad Galway people must be year's or previous Galway shoulders in his own sides? The old hands such as kicking themselves today to SECOND HALF courageous way (how I love John Connolly, Sean Silke, have missed such moments GALWAY: to see him surge forward) Joe McDonagh, Iggy Clarke, of hurling ecstasy. Gls. - 2; Pts. - 5; 7 0 ' s - 1 ; Niall Mclnerney, Andy and when Noel Lane goaled Ws - 4; Frees - 8. Fenton, Frank Burke and at his second attempt I ELCORBINO P. J. Molloy played as if this heaved my first sigh of relief. CORK: But the faithful few who was their last chance "to Not even the post was going Gls. - l;Pts. - 7; 70's - 0 ; did travel did the county earn for this team it due to thwart us now. Cork W s - 6 ; F r e e s 11. proud. On the train going to reward". That coupled with fought back but time was on the game I saw those faithful TOTAL the display from the our side. The final whistle and loyal faces who have GALWAY: newcomers like Conor brought pandemonium. We Gls. - 2 ; Pts. - 14; 7 0 ' s - 2 ; followed Galway's hurling Hayes, Bernie Forde, Noel all embraced in the Hogan fortunes through thick and Ws - 13; Frees - 13. Lane, Steve Mahon and the Stand. It was great to be a Sean Silke (Galway) centre half back. Back to bis best almost. thin for years and years. Men steadiness of ice-cool CORK" like Matt Hackett of Galwayman. (That was some Spillanes on final day -- men two weeks. This span will be goalkeeper Seam us Shinnors Gls. - l ; P t s . - 1 3 ; 7 0 ' s - 2 ; Castlegar, Gerry Cloherty paragraph! ). who may be representing the taken by "Poc Saor". Don't helped to thwart Cork of Ws - 12; F r e e * - 2 0 . and Martin Nestor of county for the first time and forget to go to Tuam for the their 4-in-a-row ambitions. It Rahoon, Tom Gallagher of SEAN SILKE still not let them down. Galway S.F.C. semi-finals would be wrong to leave out ATTENDANCE PATHETIC R e n m o r e whose first The man of the match They will be very difficult to next Sunday evening after The attendance of 12315 semi-final was in 1944 in Joe Connolly and Finbarr billing system seems to have beat because deep down Gantley in any parade of the the Monaghan v Kerry game. was pathetic for a game of Ennis, El Corbino (Eamonn they don't fear Galway. stars for both men were gone out of vogue. Still I I wish Monaghan every good this stature. The previous Corbett to you) who told me must return to a few of Already the psychological tremendous. Connolly had luck and hope they give a Sunday crowds were so on the way up that he saw Galway's heroes particularly warfare has begun. Kilkenny good account of themselves. numerous at the Leinster them beat Kilkenny in '5 3 one of his best ever games Sean Silke, Andy Fenton, mouthings already regret for Galway and Gantley Meanwhile I'll be back in 3 Cork in '75 and that he had S.F. final as t o break down J o e McDonagh, J o h n really went at the defence that it wasn't Cork they weeks time. One final word. an entrance gate and almost the feeling in his bones that Connolly, Iggy Clarke and were meeting. They say they Wasn't the Galway cause bodily barm, to this one would be No. 3, anytime he got possession Seamus Shinnors. We'll take and his goal was vital. But are more afraid of Galway. t e a m - s t r i p great last hundreds. There was no Michael O'Brien of Prospect t h e m back t o front. this was a real team effort This is all rot. There were Sunday? It's wonderful to danger of a similar nature Hill, J o h n n Burke of Goalkeeper Shinnors was and goes down in my book cheers in every Kilkenny Inky be in another final. Here's last Sunday. There were T u r l o u g h m o r e , magnificent and oozed as Galway's greatest ever house last Sunday. Not for wishing good luck to the m o r e Galway hurling Flaherty of course who was confidence. Iggy Clarke was hurling win. The programme love of Galway. The big ones Galway u-21 football team followers at last year's team manager cum trainer in great, some of his lefthanded of the game carried in its had been halted. Galway county final in Ballinasloe 1975 and Kieran Muldoon of in the Connacht Final v Sligo pucking being quite superb. statistical analysis details of would be easier meat in the between Ardrahan and Kin vara to mention but a in Tubbercurry on August This was John Connolly's final. And remember then 15th. Slan agaibh.