Conor Cooney on 2012: ‘It is almost like a train hitting you’

Conor Cooney didn’t take 2012 very well.

Then 19, the 2011 All-Ireland winning U21 full-forward was thrown straight in at the deep end by fellow St Thomas’ man Anthony Cunningham. Named at full-forward for their championship opener against Westmeath, he was withdrawn with more than 20 minutes remaining, having hit two points from play. He fired home two goals against Offaly but on the afternoon when Galway blitzed Kilkenny in the Leinster decider, Cooney was the sole forward not to register a score and was the first called to the sideline.

Management kept faith for the semi. Cooney, though, was treading water by this point. Sole forward again not to score and first to be removed. Cyril Donnellan took his place for the final and no Galway hurler, Cooney included, holds fond memories of the crushing replay defeat to Kilkenny — he saw the last 20 minutes of that 3-22 to 3-11 reverse.