Seldom can a goalkeeper in Gaelic football have had such an extraordinary influence on a match. A referendum among the 2,000 or so spectators at Tuam would surely have chosen Kerryman Declan O'Keeffe, the Munster goalkeeper, as the man of the match.
O'Keeffe blocked five goal-bound shots, some at crucial stages in a closely-fought match, which was truly remarkable. If it were not for him Connacht would have romped home for their first Railway Cup victory for 30 years.
As things turned out Munster broke a 17-year run of failure in this competition and it must have given two of the team particular pleasure to be involved in the record-breaking win.
Mentors Paidi O Se and John O'Keeffe were both players on the Munster team which won the competition in 1982. They basked in the pleasure of being involved with the team that finally broke what has been an Ulster and Leinster domination of the competition.
The saves made by Declan O'Keeffe were really the most important talking point of a rather dull game. Most significant perhaps was his penalty save from Padraig Joyce as early as the eighth minute after Connacht corner forward Lorcan Dowd had been hauled down. Six minutes later Dowd was foiled again when, put through by Pat Fallon, his shot was deflected over the bar by O'Keeffe. Had both gone to their intended destination Connacht might have been home and dry at half-time.
Even so things might have unravelled for Munster towards the end - but a Jarlath Fallon shot was again deflected over the bar by O'Keeffe. A goal at this stage would have forced the game into extra time.
In addition to O'Keeffe's heroics much comment will also centre on the Connacht decision to withdraw their centre forward, Eamon O'Hara into a deep midfield role in the second half.
Munster benefited from the ploy because it allowed the excellent Seamus Moynihan to spread his influence more liberally and Corkman Sean Og O hAilpin prospered too as his opposite number, Paul Taylor, was deprived of the type of service which he normally gets from O'Hara when they play together for Sligo.
However, Munster deserved their victory because of their ability to play as though they were a club team - supporting the players in possession and chasing everything in sight. Most prominent for them, along with goalkeeper O'Keeffe, were Moynihan, Eamon Breen, John Quane, Joe Kavanagh, and Peter Lambert.
Much was expected of Connacht, because of the presence of six of Galway's All-Ireland winning team, but they disappointed, although Pat Fallon, James Nallen, Sean Og de Paor and Kenneth Mortimer put up stiff resistance. The western team had eight bad wides in the first half in what were near-perfect weather and pitch conditions.
Munster: D O'Keeffe (Kerry); M O'Donovan (Cork), S Og O hAilpin (Cork), A Malone (Clare); C O'Sullivan (Cork) 0-1, S Moynihan (Kerry), E Breen (Kerry); D O Se (Kerry), J Quane (Limerick) 0- 1; P O'Mahony (Cork) 0-2, J Kavanagh (Cork) 0-2, one free, D O Cinneide (Kerry) 0-1, 45; P Lambert (Tipperary) 0-1, M O'Sullivan (Cork), A Dorgan (Cork) 0-2, one free. Sub: L Hassett (Kerry) for O Cinneide (7 mins); A Lynch (Cork) for O'Donovan (41 mins); M Daly (Clare) for O'Sullivan (55 mins).
Connacht: P Burke (Mayo); R Silke (Galway), D Donlon (Roscommon), K Mortimer (Mayo); M Ryan (Roscommon), J Nallen (Mayo), S de Paor (Galway) 0-1; S O Domhnaill (Galway), P Fallon (Mayo); M Donnellan (Galway) 0-2, one free, E O'Hara (Sligo), P Joyce (Galway); L Dowd (Roscommon) 0-1 (Roscommon), P Taylor (Sligo) 0-1, N Finnegan (Galway) 0-1. Subs: J Fallon (Galway) 0-1 for P Joyce (41 mins); F Costello (Mayo) for Ryan (49 mins); D Sloyane (Sligo) for P Fallon (55 mins).
Referee: P O'Toole (Longford).
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