Proof that gaelic football can still be easy on the eye
This is how the game can - and should be - played.
Galway’s Ian Burke (0-4), Cathal Mulryan (0-3) and Adrian Varley hit some stunning points, as did Brian Hurley (1-4) and Dan MacEoin (0-4) for John Cleary’s charges. Hurley in particular did not deserve to sit in a losing dressing-room as he more than anyone lead the Rebel revival with two fine points from play and a scintillating goal in the second half. He consistently showed for the ball and his work-rate was top class. His exquisite goal stopped the rot as it looked as if Galway were going to stitch it into Cork after taking a nine point lead at one stage. The watching Conor Counihan must have been impressed with his industry and flair.
While Galway’s forwards are a lively bunch, including Shane Walsh — who did not have his best game of the campaign, but is a player with serious natural talent — it was their midfield combination of Fiontán Ó Curraoin and Tom Flynn who were the foundation rocks of this All-Ireland win.
Ó Curraoin caught some fantastic ball from kick-outs and took down at least six clean catches during the game and also flicked some balls down to “play anywhere” wing-forward Cathal Mulryan.
Ó Curraoin who was Galway’s captain, and man-of-the-match always looked calm and assured and his use of possession was excellent. His leadership was absolutely central to Galway’s victory.
Having won a Sigerson with DCU last year, alongside the likes of Michael Murphy (Donegal) and Paul Flynn (Dublin), Ó Curraoin is a player Galway will want to kick-on and transfer his talent to the senior stage.
Cork’s other midfielder Ian Maguire did some very good things, and won some good ball at stages, but Tom Flynn who is 6-6” was able to stick with him and nullify his influence.
Cork will have hoped for a bigger impact from team captain Damien Cahalane and Tom Clancy at the centre of their defence.
Both men are on the senior panel and are very talented footballers. However, the Galway management team of Alan Flynn and former senior stars Declan Meehan and Paul Clancy had their home-work done and kept the ball being sprayed into the corners and wings where the pace and guile of Burke and Varley was difficult to counteract.
What will this success mean for Galway over the coming years? Well, Cork won U21 titles in 2007 and 2009 and went onto win the Sam Maguire in 2010 with some of those players involved.
Galway are miles away from even contemplating winning any national senior titles, nevertheless there is a optimism that from the 2011 and 2013 U21 successes, a core group of players will advance to senior level and try to get the county some semblance of progress and consistency in the inter-county arena.
Galway face Mayo on Sunday week in Pearse Stadium in the first round of the Connacht SFC and it will be interesting to see how many of Saturday night’s players will be involved.
Only a fool believes in “quick fixes” but what Saturday proves is there is some good talent coming through in Galway football.
How it is utilised, minded and developed over the coming few years will determine if the county can become a force at senior again.
