Pádraic Mannion: 'I even watched it back. I don’t know would I have done anything differently'

It was Mannion's kick that sent the sliotar towards Kilkenny’s Cillian Buckley, who dispatched into the net to break Galway hearts.

UNFORTUNATE KICK: Padraic Mannion of Galway poses for a portrait at the 2023 GAA Hurling All-Ireland Series national launch in Waterford. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Pádraic Mannion climbed onto the bus after their last-gasp Leinster final loss and immediately reached for his phone. Galway’s devastation was considerable and he felt culpable.

It was his kick that sent the sliotar towards Kilkenny’s Cillian Buckley. Mannion watched helplessly as the stalwart drove the ball into the bottom corner. At the time they were out on their feet having contested for 70 exhausting minutes. He needed to know exactly how it happened.