Kilkenny finds his stride to help Dublin claim final spot

Dublin 1-11 Galway 1-9:RUMOURS OF greatness have been circulating about this Dublin team since their under-12 days. Former Dublin star Dessie Farrell, the Gaelic Players Association chief who eventually broke bread with GAA hierarchy, has been with them all that time.

Yesterday, however, they almost disappeared from plain view before their supposed destiny has been realised.

But they survived. Late points from centre back John Small and the highly-influential dual player, Ciarán Kilkenny, saw them home.

The opening 14 seconds gave Dublin the perfect start. Emmet Ó Conghaile caught the throw-in, David Campbell showed for it, quickly laying it off to Cormac Costello who presented Scott Fulham with a sight of goal. He finished.

By the time Galway clawed their way back into the contest, Dublin had banked 1-3.

Shane Walsh, the excellent St Jarlath’s forward, landed some important frees while Conor Rabbitte’s majestic scoring ability and the hard running of Seán Moran eventually brought Galway back to a single point.

Dublin rallied again before the interval with Fulham and Kilkenny scores making it 1-5 to 0-4.

“We had moved off script a little,” said Farrell of this sobering performance. “Things that we had focused on and practiced weren’t happening for us. Sometimes you are in an arena out there and it can be difficult for young fellas.”

Galway dominated the third quarter and hit 1-5 without reply. It began with another Rabbitte point, his third gem of the day.

Ian Burke stepped inside Dublin full back and captain Robert McDaid, who wrestled him to earth. Penalty and a yellow card for McDaid. Walsh fired the ball low to the left corner.

After more mesmerising work by Rabbitte, Burke made it 1-8 to 1-5. Dublin were in desperate need of a score. Paul Mannion finally ended the 15-minute famine.

Galway will really rue kicking five wides in quick succession.

But Kilkenny eventually found his irresistible stride to land four of Dublin’s last five points. His majestic strike, high into the Hill, in injury-time put them ahead.

“That’s character-building stuff out there,” said Farrell. “There was always going to be a time when that type of question was asked and that type of response was needed. And you never know, even if you have belief in the lads, you never truly know until that time comes.”

It came and they passed the test. But only just. The lesson, Farrell hopes, has been heeded.

Kilkenny, Ó Conghaile, Cormac Costello and Eric Lowndes must now switch their attention to Sunday’s All-Ireland hurling final also against Galway – 1954 was the last time Dublin won the minor hurling and football All-Ireland titles. Their 10th and last football minor success was in 1984.

DUBLIN: R O’Hanlon; G Hannigan, R McDaid (capt), R Real; E Lowndes, J Small (0-1), J McCaffrey; P O’Higgins, E Ó Conghaile; P Mannion (0-1), G Ivory (0-1, 45), C Costello (0-1); S Fulham (1-1), D Campbell, C Kilkenny (0-6, 0-2 frees). Subs: D Byrne for R Real (34 mins), N Scully for D Campbell (43 mins), E Archibold for C Costello (51 mins), C Meaney for S Fulham (63 mins).

GALWAY: C Gleeson; A Nolan, J Shaughnessy (capt), E Murray; E Walsh, C Cunningham, C Mulryan; S Maughan (0-1), G Canavan; S Moran, S Walsh (1-4, 1-0 pen, four frees), P Glynn; G Armstrong, I Burke (0-1), C Rabbitte (0-3). Subs: T Curran for P Glynn (46 mins), S Geoghegan for G Armstrong (48), G Gibbons for S Moran (56).

Referee: R O’Donnell (Donegal).