Kerry 0-20

Galway 0-16

GIVEN how far they have unexpectedly travelled this year, it would have represented a fairytale triumph for the Galway footballers if they had pulled off something of a shock result in the biggest game of all at Croke Park on Sunday.

Making a first All-Ireland Final appearance in 21-years, the gallant Tribesmen discovered how punishing a battleground elite sport can be. They did so many things right and the team’s commitment was extraordinary, but it still wasn’t enough to end the county’s Sam Maguire famine.

With just five minutes of regulation time remaining, Galway stood on the brink of a famous victory over the aristocrats of Gaelic football. With the teams’ level for the ninth time in an absorbing and high-quality final, nobody could be sure what the outcome would be.

Ultimately, Galway were the ones who faltered, but only after emptying the energy tanks in pursuit of the perfect climax to a progressive season. They frightened the lives out of Kerry, but obvious fatigue contributed to some poor game management down the home stretch.

But a major turning point was the controversial decision by referee Seán Hurson to penalise the excellent John Daly as he attempted to shake off the attention of Kerry substitute Killian Spillane at a time when the teams were deadlocked at 0-16 each. The resulting David Clifford pointed free gave Kerry the initiative at a critical juncture.

Galway were entitled to be aggrieved over the match official’s intervention – Hurson could just as easily have awarded a free out – while the ire of the men in maroon was only heightened by the ignoring of a possible push on Damien Comer just seconds beforehand after he had dispossessed Paul Murphy.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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