Change of ends affects Galway's golden era

All-Ireland SHC Final Countdown: 1990 All-Ireland final:Cork 5-15, Galway 2-21. These two have met five times in September with Cork prevailing on each occasion.

The four encounters before 1990 resulted in sound beatings but the most recent instalment joined that elite group of contests that became known, for a time at least, "The Greatest Game Ever".

For Galway it was the end of an era: five All-Ireland final appearances in six years with two titles added to those won in 1923 and 1980. Like most endings in sport, it is a sour memory as the Galway men did enough to win any game but an All-Ireland final.

They raced into a seven-point lead by half-time as captain Joe Cooney gave a tutorial in centre-forward play. He hit 1-7 and set up a goal for Eanna Ryan while being fouled. Waterford referee John Moore disallowed the goal, ignoring the advantage, instead awarding a Galway free.

Then they swapped sides and the 69,954 crowd witnessed a remarkable change in fortune. With the breeze behind goalkeeper, and present-day selector, Ger Cunningham and Jim Cashman silencing Cooney, Cork grabbed four goals in 20 minutes for a 5-13 to 1-19 lead. John Fitzgibbon claimed two while Mark Foley and Tomás Mulcahy scored one each.

Galway managed to reel them back to three points with a goal from replacement Brendan Lynskey but Cork held on for their 27th title.

CORK: Ger Cunningham; John Considine, Denis Walsh, Seán O'Gorman; Seanie McCarthy, Jim Cashman, Kieran McGuckin (0-1); Brendan O'Sullivan, Teddy McCarthy (0-3); Ger Fitzgerald (0-1), Mark Foley (1-1), Tony O'Sullivan (0-2); Tomás Mulcahy (1-2), Kevin Hennessy (1-4), John Fitzgibbon (2-1). Subs: David Quirke for McGuckin, Cathal Casey for Brendan O'Sullivan.

GALWAY: John Commins; Dermot Fahy, Seán Treacy, Ollie Kilkenny; Pete Finnerty, Tony Keady (0-1), Gerry McInerney; Michael Coleman (0-1), Pat Malone; Anthony Cunningham (0-1), Joe Cooney (1-7), Martin Naughton (0-4); Michael McGrath (0-1), Noel Lane (0-4), Eanna Ryan (0-2). Subs: Tom Monaghan for Malone; Brendan Lynskey (1-0) for Cunningham.

Championship sharpshooters

It has been a strange year for Cork. Granted, they are exactly where they want to be but their performances have been questioned throughout the championship.

Several irregularities show up on examination of the All-Ireland finalists' scoring records. The old reliables, Ben O'Connor (0-19 - an average of 4.75 points per game) and Joe Deane (1-15), top their charts without breaking into the national top 10.

Also, in the last two outings, game-defining scores have come from the excellent half-back line. John Gardiner has notched up 0-5, and captain Seán Óg Ó hAilpín finally broke his championship duck with a point against both Waterford and Clare.

In contrast, Galway's Ger Farragher is certain to finish top of the pile with 3-49 to date. His 2-9 against Kilkenny saw him leapfrog Laois's James Young and TJ Ryan of Limerick. Other consistent scorers in Galway's ranks include Damien Hayes, David Tierney (both 2-10), Niall Healy (4-2) and Richie Murray with 12 points.

THE TOP 10

1 Ger Farragher (Galway) 3-49 ( five games; average: 11.6)

2 James Young (Laois) 2-46 (six games; average: 8.66)

3 Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny) 3-37 (five games; average: 11.5

4 TJ Ryan (Limerick) 3-36 (six games; average: 7.5)

5 Eoin Kelly (Tipperary) 1-36 (five games; average: 7.8)

6 Martin Coulter (Down) 6-20 (four games; average: 9.5)

7 Paul Flynn (Waterford) 3-26 (five games; average 7.0)

8 Niall Gilligan (Clare) 0-33 (six games, avarage: 5.5)

9 Brian Carroll (Offaly) 1-29 (five games; average: 6.4)

10 John McIntosh (Antrim) 1-24 (six games; average: 4.5)

Travelling in style

Iarnród Éireann has laid on six special trains from Cork this Sunday. One of these is the "Luxury Executive" and will carry 172 flush Rebels to the capital. For €199 the passengers receive a full Irish breakfast on the outward journey, transfers between Heuston station and Croke Park and an evening meal on the trip home.

Limerick name line-up

Limerick minor manager Tim O'Connor has made one change from the side that overcame Dublin in the semi-final last month with Seán Browne coming in for Richard McCarthy at right corner back.

Brian Quinn has recovered from the fractured wrist he sustained playing for his club Ballybrown on July 17th and is named among the replacements.

Galway manager Mattie Murphy is expected to select from a fully fit panel after training tonight.

LIMERICK (SH v Galway): G Flynn; S Browne, L Hurley, T Condon; J Kelly, D Moloney, G O'Mahony; D Moore, S Hickey; D Hanley, J Ryan, B O'Sullivan; M Ryan, E Ryan, D O'Sullivan.