‘It was a hell of a match’

IT took Galway manager Vincent Mullen an age to gather his thoughts before he came and spoke to the waiting media after his side saw off the Cork challenge in a wonderful All-Ireland U-21 HC semi-final.

He said: “Putting my hurling cap on for a second, that was one of the greatest games of hurling I’ve been privileged to see in a long, long time, and those followers of both teams who stayed away missed one hell of a match.

“It was always going to be difficult for us going into a game of this magnitude without having played a competitive match, but we got the start we wanted, relaxed a bit and let Cork in for two goals.

“You cannot afford to concede those kind of scores away to Cork, and expect to get away with it. But this is a superb group of players and they showed commendable heart and determination in battling back to win it.

“Maybe the free we got to force the extra time was of the lucky variety, and honestly I’d have settled for a draw after Karril pointed it for the equaliser.”

Mullen added: “I knew it was going to be a battle. Games against Cork at under age level always are. They had come into the match after playing three games in Munster while we had none. It was vital for us then that we got a good start and then matched them score for score.

“Our view was that if we could stay in touch with Cork in the opening 15 minutes we knew we were in with a shout. But we have only won a match. There is no cup for beating Cork. Dublin in the final is going to be another huge ask of us.

“It’s a great feeling to have come out on top in a game of such brilliance. Hopefully we can go on and win the title. It would be a real pity to leave it behind us now after playing so well to day.”