Hurling the winner as thriller goes to the wire

HURLING ANALYST:HURLING HAS – yet again – shown itself to be a quite unique and magnificent sport. This All-Ireland final was a fantastic, unbelievable occasion and, for those of us looking on, it has left us licking our lips in anticipation of a repeat and an extension of a great season: Kilkenny and Galway all over again? What could be better?

This was a final that ebbed and flowed and, just like the minor appetiser, producing a game played in the oppressive conditions that fittingly came down to the wire. It was as tense an All-Ireland final as I ever saw in latter years and, if the final free won by Davy Glennon which was pointed by Joe Canning was a little questionable, the fact Canning stood up and converted it under pressure from an awkward angle demonstrated immense character and provided probably the fitting conclusion. A draw, but hurling was the winner!

I was sure Kilkenny would win the Leinster final earlier in the year and I was wrong. I was less confident about yesterday’s All-Ireland final but still thought they might do it. Now? I just don’t know.

It will be even harder to win the next day and the manner in which Galway played in this game underlines just what a tonic they have been for this year’s championship. Galway might feel they left it after them having had a seven-point lead; however, on the evidence of the season, it’s possible the next three weeks could still be more wearying in Nowlan Park than in Galway.

Looking back on it, I believe the period just before half-time – when Galway conceded a number of frees – was critical. Up to then, Galway’s defence was on top, they had all the energy and all the momentum. Their half-back line, just as in the Leinster final, was superb and their midfield, and Andy Smith in particular, dominated this area.

Galway didn’t get as great a start as they’d got in the Leinster final but seemed well in control and that seven-point lead they amassed at one stage confirmed how far they’ve come this year.

In the first half, Kilkenny had no answer to Galway until that late spell when Henry Shefflin, who had been off target with frees earlier in the game, found his radar and allowed the champions to get closer at half-time than they might, or should, have been.

There were a number of untypical wides from Kilkenny, including a scenario where Shefflin went for a goal from a 20- metre free and then put the subsequent 65 wide. It was like a double blow and perhaps highlighted just how Galway had all the momentum at that stage.

At half-time, I felt Galway could go on and win the game but Kilkenny are Kilkenny and you have to hand it to Brian Hogan, Paul Murphy and Henry, in particular, for hauling them back into the game.

They fought unbelievably hard to get back level and, then when Henry put them in front, there was a sense they had turned the tide against the odds and were the ones with the momentum until Niall Burke struck with Galway’s second goal.

Shefflin, going for his ninth All-Ireland medal, might have expected more from his attacking colleagues than to have to turn back the clock and take up the cross at number 11 again just as he did so often in the past.

TJ Reid apart, none of the others matched Shefflin’s appetite or delivered as much.

The last 10 minutes was a drama with two central characters, King Henry seeking to hold on to his crown from the emerging Joe Canning.

There were a number of critical happenings towards the death. James Skehill’s save from Colin Fennelly was brilliant and brave but Fennelly shouldn’t have given the goalkeeper any chance.

Then, there was Shefflin’s decision to take the point from the penalty.

Now it was down to King Henry. Do you go for a goal? He weighed up the options. He asked the referee how much time was left in the game.

I can honestly say I would have done the same thing to take the point if in his position. It was high stakes at that stage but the percentage call was to take the point. It definitely would have won the match for Kilkenny if he went for a goal and got it.

But, in taking the point, he knew the worst thing that could likely happen was that the match would be a draw and they would have taken that after 30 minutes.

I thought the referee Barry Kelly had a very good game but I could fully understand why Brian Cody should have been so animated over the awarding of that late free that ultimately allowed Galway to level matters.

Still, Canning had to stand up and be counted. For some reason, maybe it had to do with the wind, but shooting at height – from frees and general play – was less accurate down the Hill 16 end of the pitch. Canning had only minutes earlier missed a free from a similarly awkward position. He showed what a great player he is by making no mistake with a low- struck free that defied the wind to level the match.

No winners, except those who witnessed it. Shefflin was great. Joe Canning was great. Kevin Hynes, Johnny Coen were outstanding in the Galway defence. Iarla Tannian was hugely influential. Kilkenny’s Brian Hogan was brilliant in the second half.

What’s more, it’s going to be hard to call the next day as well because the same questions are still there. What about Kilkenny’s energy levels? How much has this taken out of them?

Galway have been a tonic for the championship this year. They nearly did again what they did in the Leinster final and it took an unbelievable rearguard action from Kilkenny, with some of the greatest players of all time at the pin of their collar, to deny them. You have to hand it to Kilkenny as well because they fought valiantly and a draw was a fair result and great for hurling.