O’Mahony hopes success will breed success
But, as a medal-winner himself with his native Mayo back in 1974 and a winning manager with them when the All-Ireland Under-21 title last went to Connacht in 1983, he could take great pride in Galway winning a second title after a 30-year lapse in O'Moore Park yesterday.
One throw-away comment from him summed up the game."We pretty held sway in most areas of the field as it turned out. I'm delighted for this bunch of players that they have got success,'' he said.
"Things worked for us today, it's as simple as that. We have improved a notch in every game and I would say we improved a couple of notches again today. I knew we would have to.
"It's brilliant to have won, but for these fellows' football future it's only starting. We won it as a team and that was the important thing. The lads on the senior panel were absolutely brilliant but it was the way the other guys responded that made the difference.''
One of the newer players he was referring to was classy corner-forward Michael Meehan from Caltra, younger brother of senior medal-winners Tomas and Declan. A member of the successful St. Jarlath's team, he was only called into the panel after Galway lost to Meath in the minor quarter-final. "I haven't looked back since,'' he remarked.
"It's just fantastic, something I could never have dreamed about. Our midfield was outstanding. It's easy to play well when you have Joe Bergin and Kieran Comer and the like kicking good ball into you. That was the key area in the match and luckily we came out on top there.''
Team captain, Joe Bergin described the game as 'tougher' than the scoreline indicated.
"We knew coming down that Dublin would be hard to beat. We just stuck to our guns and kept playing. It was never-say-die and thank God we were on the right side of the score at the final whistle.''
Looking to the future, he expects a number of the winning team to go on to make the grade.
"There are some great footballers there and I have no doubt that they will be there or thereabouts in the next year or two fighting for places. That can only be good for Galway.''
Full back, Kieran Fitzgerald compared the joy of winning to being 'as good, if not better' to his senior medal success last year.
"We were winning with lads we went to school with and are friends with.
" It's an unbelievable feeling.
"It was much the same as the Kerry match in that we started off very well but thankfully we did not have any lapse of concentration or let them back into it.''
Dublin selector Dave Billings admitted to a sense of surprise at the way the game turned out.
"I thought we had a fair chance of winning today but in fairness to Galway they played excellent football and always looked like dominating.
They dominated the middle of the field in the first half and that was when the game was won. In fairness they were by far the better team.''
