Leinster force Connacht to play catch-up

As the all-Galway Connacht team took the field in sunny Nowlan Park for this M Donnelly Interprovincial Championship hurling final yesterday, they passed under a sign in their dressing-room which stated, in bold red lettering, win, win, win.

Just over half an hour later, after a truly tame first half, they trailed by 11 points, 2-13 to 0-8, and what should have been a decent contest was effectively all over.

So what happened? Did they even notice that sign?