Canning the key as Galway primed for minor hat-trick

GALWAY are chasing a hat-trick in tomorrow’s ESB All-Ireland MHC final against Tipperary in Croke Park (1.30).

It’s their fourth final in-a-row, with Kilkenny spoiling their party in 2003, winning by a point, 2-16 to 2-15.

It’s the seventh final between the counties and Tipp have yet to be beaten by the Tribesmen.

Galway were not one of the fancied rated teams this season but, after surviving the challenge of Antrim’s challenge in their opening game, they knocked Cork out in the semi-final.

Kilkenny won Leinster with plenty to spare against Dublin but came a cropper against Tipperary, who had failed to Cork in the Munster final.

“Few people gave us a chance but we’re there now and will have a right cut off it,” said Galway manager Mattie Murphy.

“When we set out I didn’t think we had a squad capable of winning but we seemed to get better with every game and Tipperary will have to play very well to relieve us of our title.

“Our quarter-final against Antrim was a real wake-up call. We were expected to win the game handily but were put to the pin of our collars to beat them.

Our performance wasn’t great but we made a couple of changes for the semi-final against a highly rated Cork side and, thankfully, they worked.

“Goalkeeper James Skehill made a couple of marvellous saves and while Joe Canning was tightly marked all through, he made a significant contribution also. Both were members of last year’s All-Ireland winning team and their experience proved invaluable.

“Canning is an exceptional talent, and maybe we are too dependent on him. If he is held, we could be in trouble, but the Cork full-back did very well on him in the semi-final and it was players like Sean Coen who came up trumps.

“We’ll need every player on top of his form because this is a very good Tipperary side. They are without a minor title since 1996, and badly need one.”

Tipp coach Liam Sheehy said the Cork game will have benefited Galway. “That game will have brought them on a ton. If you look back on that game, Cork came from nine points down to go two in front but Galway rallied again to win it.

“However, if we play to our potential I would give us a get chance. It’s a title the county badly needs, and we’ll certainly give it our best shot.”

TIPPERARY: J. Ryan; M. Cahill, P. Maher, B. Maher; E. Hogan, T. Stapleton, J. O’Keeffe; J. McLoughney, G. Ryan; S. Hennessy, T. McGrath, N. Bergin; P. Bourke, T. Dunne, T. Dalton.

GALWAY: J. Skehill; J. Ryan, M. McMahon, A. Moylan; D. Burke, K. Keane, S. Quinn; E. Forde, G. Lally; A. Harte, M. Corcoran, L. Tully; S. Coen, J. Canning, G. Hennelly.