Doing it the hard way

NOT that Conor Hayes was ever going to say such a thing, but this result vindicated his term as manager after three years book-ended by rumours of player unrest and constant speculation as to his very future in the job.

Last winter, Hayes and Mattie Murphy were unwitting central characters in the Galway County Board’s farcical attempts to appoint a manager. Though he survived, there was little to suggest this was a Galway team capable of landing an All-Ireland for the first time since Hayes himself led them to a two-in-a-row back in 1987 and 1988.

“An absolutely enthralling entertaining game. In the end, it was the bit of heart we showed that just brought us out on top. I thought we were in control just before half-time but then Kilkenny came back.