Top-class team performance was key to thrilling semi-final victory

IT WAS hugely to the credit of the Galway team management that they used their bench so well. Thrilled by the tigerish commitment of their defence in the final quarter and the excellence of their midfield all through, they still realised that more was needed from the attack as the game wore on, and by the closing stages all three in the starting full-forward line had been replaced. The lads sent on to freshen the attack, Adrian Murphy, Michael Farragher and Joe Joe Greaney, all got stuck in, and it was significant that Michael Farragher was among the scorers late on. Up to then, Mark Hehir was carrying most of the responsibility for scoring, and rising to the occasion for the third successive time in this campaign, but while it's unlikely that there will be changes for the final it's heartening to note that there are so many quality forwards on standby. The panel hasn't as much strength in depth for backs and midfielders, I feel, and there is a danger that may put Galway under pressure the next day, but that remains to be seen. In defence, in particular, Galway will have to 'up' the collective performance in the final, for while Colin Forde is a real leader at full-back and the tough, naturally competitive Jonathan Duane is also a top man, I would say the overall display at the back the last day wouldn't be quite enough to warrant a 100 per cent vote of confidence for an All-Ireland final without more consistency over the hour. The way I saw it in Ennis, the backs were outstanding in the tough, tense closing stages but they were well stretched in the second quarter, in particular. On the other hand, we don't know if Cavan have a forward of the class of the powerful young Cork man Ciarán Sheehan, and in fairness there are times in all matches when backs are under intense pressure. Playing in defence in hard, tight, fiercely competitive matches is no place for the fainthearted! A few reflections to end this report: Thomas Flynn from Athenry was a clear, undisputed choice for Man of the Match in Ennis; he was magnificent from start to finish, well supported again by Fionntán Ó Curraoin from the Inverin club Micheál Breathnachs, but it's too early to say if Tom Flynn is a new Kevin Walsh, and we must hope there won't be too big a burden of responsibility thrust on his sturdy shoulders at Croke Park on Sunday week. Sure, it was a mighty boost for Galway that the Cork captain Aidan Walsh, an All-Star last year, was a strangely subdued figure last Saturday, as Thomas Flynn ruled midfield, but when Walsh went off injured with ten minutes to go it was seen to be hamstring trouble. Did he bring that injury into the game? It's surely a fair question, although I don't know the answer. No two games are ever the same, but Galway cannot really expect to win the All-Ireland final from four points down with 18 minutes to go, or from going more than 25 minutes being outscored 0-9 to 0-2. When you think seriously about that, you quickly realise one thing â€â€ there will be no complacency between now and Sunday week. Galway: Manus Breathnach (An Spidéal); Gary Sweeney (Mountbellew-Moylough), Colin Forde (Killererin, captain) Aonghus Tierney (Tuam Stars), Tomás Fahy (Killererin), Jonathan Duane (St James's), Joss Moore (Mountbellew-Moylough); Thomas Flynn (Athenry, 0-1), Fionntán Ó Curraoin (Micheál Breathnachs); Conor Doherty (Tuam Stars), Mark Hehir (Milltown, 0-5, three frees), Micheál Boyle (Killererin 1-1); Daniel Cummins (Claregalway), Patrick Sweeney (Killanin, 0-1), Eric Monahan (Caherlistrane, 0-2). Subs:  Adrian Murphy (Kilconly), for Sweeney, 43 mins; Michael Farragher (Corofin, 0-1), for Cummins, 57 mins; J. J. Greaney (Oughterard), for Monahan, 62 mins. Cork: John Mellet; Liam Jennings, Damien Cahalane, Alan Cronin; Peter Daly, Tom Clancy, Jamie Wall; Micheál Ó Laoire, Aidan Walsh (0-1), captain; Ciarán Sheehan (0-4), Mark Collins (0-3, one free), John O'Rourke; Barry O'Driscoll (0-2), Donal Óg Hodnett (0-1), Brian Coughlan. â€Â¨Ã¢€Â¨Subs: David Nation, for Ó Laoire, half-time; Kevin Hallissey (0-1), for Walsh, inj., 48 mins; Eoin Buckley, for Coughlan, 50 mins. Referee: Joe Curley (Meath). Herald Sport Man of the Match: Thomas Flynn (Galway).[/private]