Mattie Murphy's marvellous minors brought honour and glory to Galway hurling again
By NOEL CARNEY Galway ........................ 1-21 Dublin ......................... 1-12 GALWAY'S magnificent run of success in underage hurling continued at Croke Park on Sunday when the man with the golden touch, Mattie Murphy, steered his latest batch of starlets to the county's fourth All-Ireland title in this grade in eight years and their ninth in total. In doing so, they crushed the hopes of favourites Dublin who won the last of their four crowns as far back as 1965. It was Mattie Murphy's sixth time to manage a minor team to national glory, a near-unbelievable achievement considering that the panel changes every year, and while he is always quick to acknowledge the important roles played by his fellow mentors Michael Haverty, Michael Fogarty and Michael Flanagan the debt that Galway hurling owes to the Turloughmore native is huge. [private] That is not to take away from the wonderful display turned in by this excellent young squad of players themselves. Their discipline, determination, hunger to succeed and work-rate allied to a combination of skill and physical power proved too much for a game but flat metropolitan outfit that never looked like living up to the high reputation earned earlier in the campaign. Indeed the limited nature of the Dublin display would sound a note of caution when judging Galway's true worth. The 6-19 scored against Waterford in the semi-final placed too much emphasis on the alleged ability of the Dublin forwards and, as it turned out, the worrying 5-13 conceded by their defence, mainly in the second half, was a more accurate barometer of their ability. Nevertheless it was a fine achievement for Shay Boland's team to win Leinster and reach a first All-Ireland decider since 1983 when Galway proved too good for them. That Galway team, which contained many brilliant young players who went on to star at senior level in the county's golden era of the late 1980s, included Pádraig Brehony, uncle of the outstanding Pádraig Brehony (0-4 in last Sunday's final, all from play), and Tom Maloney, uncle of star forward Shane Maloney (1-9) â€â€ probably the two best hurlers on the field last Sunday. Both of these exciting young stars play with the rising Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry club and there are many who would argue that another player from the club, the tigerish Paul Killeen, was just as effective in his own way by sealing up the defence with a superb performance at full-back. Such was the dominance of Galway however, once they got on top early on, that it is almost unfair to single out individuals. This was a very well coached winning team. Their appetite for possession, their blocking down, their determination to win breaking ball and their intelligent use of it when secured didn't come overnight and all concerned with the coaching of these lads can take a bow. The minors can set an example to our adult teams in their attitude and approach to games. Galway, though, started this match with a couple of missed opportunities as Shane Maloney drove a long sideline cut high but narrowly wide and Pádraig Brehony made a great burst through the Dublin defence only to mishit his drive into the grateful arms of the goalkeeper. When Colm Cronin sent the Dubs into a third minute lead with a fine score from play it gave his team a lift and it took a great block on Emmet Ó Conghaile by Paul Killeen to prevent a goal chance. Although Dublin had a huge team, Galway had plenty of big men too, including giant forwards in Jason Flynn, Jonathan Glynn and Jack Carr who were causing trouble with their aerial ability. And when Flynn was fouled, Shane Maloney dispatched the 65-metre free to level the score. Colm Cronin, one of Dublin's better players, put his side ahead for the second time almost immediately but Galway's converted defender Adrian Tuohy showed his scoring ability with a levelling point after Glynn's neat flick set him up. Galway had the benefit of the wind in that opening half so it was important to establish a meaningful lead although the rain later changed that scenario. Dublin went ahead for a third time through dual star Ciarán Kilkenny but it was to be the last time they would be on level terms. On this occasion it fell to Pádraig Brehony to strike the equaliser and when Shane Maloney made it 4 - 3 from a free there was to be no way back for the battling young Dubs although it took a great interception by Paul Killeen to save Galway from danger. A lovely passing move by Mattie Murphy's young men ended with Shane Maloney making it 0-5 to 0-3 but a 65-metre free for Dublin by Paul Winters reduced the deficit. That proved to be Dublin's last score of the half as Shane Mannion deprived them with a fine catch under pressure and Galway were now moving into top gear. Pádraig Brehony and Dean Higgins were on top in midfield, big Seán Sweeney was rock-solid at No. 6 and wing-backs Adrian Tuohy and John Hanbury were shutting out their opponents. So indeed were Cormac Diviney and Ahascragh-Fohenagh's Pádraic Mannion who never gave star man Cormac Costello a look-in. A devastating five-minute spell saw Galway surge clear: Jason Flynn got a brace of excellent points, both at the end of delightful approach play, and those scores sandwiched a super shot sent over from distance by Shane Maloney. The same player made it 9-5 from a free after Jonathan Glynn was fouled but it took a delightful flick away by Pádraic Mannnon to break up another Dublin attack before Dean Higgins put Galway's tally into double figures with a crucial late drive from play, yet again following a patient build up. Many times in the past Galway fans were cursing their luck with refereeing decisions but on this occasion it was the Dublin supporters who were bemoaning their luck as they only got two frees in the first half. However, they could have no complaints after the break and the admirable discipline of the entire Galway side was also a crucial factor. So it was that Galway had a healthy but far from safe 0-10 to 0-4 lead at the interval but as Dublin found out against Waterford things can change rapidly in hurling. They introduced Donal Gormley for centre-back Jamie Desmond and needed an encouraging start. They duly got it when Aodhán Clabby sent over a lovely point from the left wing but were angry at the awarding of a Galway free that Shane Maloney promptly drove between the posts. Matthew McCaffrey got one from play for the Dubs but Shane Maloney replied after brilliantly winning possession off a defender and the Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry lad converted another free that the opposition considered soft â€â€ with some justification. At that stage it was 0-13 to 0-6 but Ciarán Kilkenny cut the gap again. That meant that each side had scored three points since the break which was good to a certain extent for Dublin but it also meant that they were failing to eat into the Galway lead which was still six points. High catches by Jonathan Glynn set up scores for Pádraig Brehony who raced away before pointing and Shane Maloney who won and converted a free. Yet again Glynn, a big, strong young man who is good in the air, turned provider by doing the donkey work for Gerard O'Donoghue who made it 0-16 to 0-7. To Dublin's credit they were still refusing to yield and when Paul Winters converted a 65 and a free early in the final quarter they were not without hope. However, Shane Mannion thwarted them with a wonderful point-blank save from Donal Gormley and a great catch and clearance by Pádraic Mannion reached the towering Athenry man Jack Carr who stalled the possible comeback with a Galway point. Cormac Costello, who scored 4-2 against Waterford, got his solitary score of this game when he pointed after playing a one-two with Aodhán Clabby but wing-back Chris Crummy was surrounded and dispossessed on a promising run. The two-goal lead was re-established with a delightful score from out on the left wing by Pádraig Brehony and Jason Flynn's third point of the match made it 0-19 to 0-11. An Aodhán Clabby free saw Dublin reach a dozen white flags but Darragh Dolan, just on for Gerard O'Donoghue, announced his arrival with a Galway reply and such was Galway's fierce commitment in protecting their lead that forwards Jonathan Glynn and Billy Lane were yellow-carded within seconds of each other. Dublin had ceased to be a real threat to Galway's march to the title but they showed commendable spirit in fighting to the finish and they showed exemplary sportsmanship, too, on a day that was an anti-climax for them. Ciarán Kilkenny drove over their last point from a free as Mattie Murphy started giving some of his subs a run but a neat angled point by Pádraig Brehony added to Dublin's woes and their misfortune was complete when the same player sent his clubmate Shane Maloney clear on a run that saw him career through before smashing a bullet of a drive to the net. Ciarán Kilkenny drove a late Dublin free to the net to make the scoreboard look better from the losing team's perspective but that is all it did and the day belonged to this latest bunch of young Galway marvels. It is our ninth All-Ireland Minor hurling win. Cyril Farrell coached a very talented team to glory in 1983 for the first title and since then Galway were triumphant under Mattie Murphy in 1992, 1994, 2004, 2005 (two in succession) and 2009 while that excellent Athenry coach John Hardiman led Galway to back-to-back titles in 1999 and 2000. It is a staggering achievement and we top the list for this millennium with five victories, one ahead of Kilkenny (4) while Tipperary have two and Cork one. As well as winning four of the last eight Minor crowns Galway are also into the All-Ireland U-21 final â€â€ they play Dublin in Thurles next Saturday evening (7.00 o'clock) and a win there, as well as completing a wonderful underage double, would see us win three of the last seven U-21 deciders. Galway have also won four of the last six All-Ireland Club Championship titles. Considering that the county has already annexed the U-21 All-Ireland football title and were narrowly beaten at the semi-final stage at Minor level and St Jarlath's College, Tuam were narrowly beaten in their Hogan Cup final, it is obvious that great work is being done at schoolboy level in both sports and we must believe that it will bear fruit eventually in the senior grade.m Certainly the Mattie Murphys and Alan Mulhollands of this world believe it. And don't forget that our camogie girls have stormed through to the All-Ireland final and will take on the reigning champions Wexford next Sunday in Croke Park at 4.00pm. Both teams deserve plenty of support next weekend. Shane Maloney and Pádraig Brehony were the standout stars for the 2011 Minor hurling winners with the latter possibly shading the Man of the Match accolade for his midfield tour de force. Shane Mannion, Paul Killeen, Pádraic Mannion, Seán Sweeney, Dean Higgins, Jason Flynn and Jonathan Glynn were also superb but the team had no weak link and while they struggled for periods against Clare in the semi-final until Gerard O'Donoghue's late goal sent the game into extra-time this has been a most heart-warming campaign. Dublin found out that winning an All-Ireland title is really difficult but they are edging closer. While Galway fans will not want them to make the breakthrough next Saturday they have been a breath of fresh air this year and their senior Allianz League win was enjoyed by all followers of the game.