Preparation the key for Hayes, not reparation

All-Ireland SHC semi-final/Galway v Kilkenny: Galway and Kilkenny players both fell to their knees at the final whistle in Croke Park yesterday, knowing they'd produced a game of hurling that went well beyond the result. And both teams had the emotions to prove it.

So as the Kilkenny players walked dazed and confused down the tunnel of the Hogan Stand, every Galway player ran back and forth, determined to share in the moment of triumph. It created a true media frenzy. Where to begin? Conor Hayes was spotted with his back to the wall outside the dressingroom, calmly gathering his thoughts.

He'd been doubted, heavily beaten, criticised and even abandoned, and suddenly, that was all in the past.

"It was a question of belief, it really was," said Hayes, coolly avoiding any talk of retribution for Kilkenny's 19-point win last year. "A lot of people rang me and spoke to me and texted me this week, and all said that if I can get them to believe then we are definitely good enough. I always knew we had enough good hurlers, but we needed to get them all playing at the level required.

"This year we also had the advantage of a gradual build-up to this game, whereas in other years we've been thrown in early and deep, and that's very difficult to prepare for. I don't think Kilkenny played any different than they did last year, when they whipped us. I think they played with the same intensity and skill, but we were able to resist it. We were much better prepared this time."

It took some resistance to hold off a Kilkenny team scoring 4-18.

"I spoke to them last night, and just lined it out for them, that our preparation was right, and it was up to them to do it on the field. And fair play to them, they did. They kept their heads, and just kept on believing they would win. Even in the last 15 minutes we were all the time keeping ourselves ahead.

"Some people were also saying Kilkenny were slipping coming into this game, but it never looked like that to me. They scored 4-20 against us last year, and I was thinking the only way we'd beat them this time was to match that. But if you'd told me before we were going to score 5-18 I would have said that wasn't going to happen.

"We did get some cracking goals, but the other thing I said was if we could stop the Kilkenny goals we'd beat them. We didn't do that either. But we were still getting possession, and putting over some good scores. Maybe we did it the hard way again."

Hayes probably knows he'll need the full three weeks before the All-Ireland final to play down some of the hype that will follow this victory. And yet this is the position he's dreamed of being in since taking over as manager three years ago - and no doubt memories of 1987 and 1988 will come flooding back, the years when Hayes captained Galway to their last All-Ireland titles.

"Well, we'll just prepare for the final now," he added with a smile. "It's the last game of the championship. We are there now with Cork. Obviously they're a very good side, but there's a hunger building up in this team now, and growing all the time.

"I think this is a big turning point for us, but they'll be determined now to give a good account of themselves in the All-Ireland final. We've proved we can play at this level."

He's then reminded that Galway have a poor record against Cork in All-Ireland finals: "Sure this team doesn't have any record against Cork in finals," he interjected. "We appreciate that Cork are a top-class team, and we'll have it all to do to beat them. But there were patches of our game there today that were excellent. So you could end up with another high-scoring game. Hopefully not as a high as today, because I don't think we'd be able to keep up with it."

Captain and goalkeeper Liam Donoghue is the first to back up the manager's sentiments. "I'm sure I'm just repeating myself here, but the belief in this squad is just phenomenal. We knew if we went out and hurled the way we could we'd win the match."

Full forward Niall Healy was the next target, his three goals in the second half ensuring Galway kept their noses in front when it mattered most. "I'd never scored a goal here before, never mind three of them. It was some roller-coaster ride, though. I came off there at the end with a cramp, and I couldn't look at the rest of it. I just put the head down and listened to the crowd. We were just three points up for the last five minutes, and Eddie Brennan was on fire.

"We're just delighted now we held out, and I can't believe we're in the All-Ireland final. But we were quietly confident, because the training had been excellent the last few weeks. There was definitely a good buzz."

But talk us through the goals, Niall. "Sure I was awful lucky for the first one. Richie Murray's shot was well saved, and when it fell to me I couldn't miss it. The second one I had the space so I couldn't miss that one either. Sure I couldn't miss the three of them really. But I'd never dreamed of something like that. I was thinking two points would be grand, as long as we won."

Finally to the old guard. Ollie Canning, the producer of another work of art at corner back: "Obviously Kilkenny came back very strong, and brought our big lead back down to three points. Kevin Broderick came in then and got that wonderful point, and that was just the cushion we needed. Obviously we'll enjoy today. But once we go back training we'll be getting set for Cork. We know they're the top team in the country. We made a few mistakes today that we can work on."

And as a good a game as you've played in, Ollie? "You don't really know what it's like when you're out there. It was score after score, with a lot of goals in the mix as well. Both teams seemed to reply to any scores of the other team, but I knew it was exciting."

And that's putting it mildly.