Previous hurt heals in time for revenge

Although there was a palpable sense of satisfaction in the Galway dressing-room after the defeat of Tipperary, there was nothing to suggest that the players felt their summer was made. For too long, the westerners had found themselves labouring in the winter for one short and, ultimately sorrowful, hour.

This season, after delivering stylishly on a league title, Mattie Murphy's team again sought to redress the litany of tearful tales that have haunted them in recent times. And when they achieved that, slogging it out in a strange and compelling match against Tipperary, there was less elation than relief.

"It definitely lightened things all right," says Brian Feeney. "I mean, Galway hadn't won a competitive championship game in seven years and, naturally, that had begun to get a little bit frustrating, particularly for some of the lads who had been around for a while.

"But, against that, we were immediately aware of the fact that we were just through to the next round, that we still have a lot ahead of it.

"I think that last year against Clare the team realised what we were capable of and, perhaps, there was a feeling of opportunity missed about that game which carried us through when we met Tipperary."

Disheartening as Galway's eventual loss to Clare in last year's quarter-final series was, the nature of their play in the thrilling drawn match restored a lot of faith in Galway hurling. After the debacle of 1998, the skill and heart which underlined last year's effort was nourishing. "Well, to be honest, we were too involved with trying to get ourselves right and concentrate on our own approach to the game to have been aware of that, but the number of people buying tickets in Athenry on the week of the game was striking.

"Maybe after the league, people had a feeling about us again, but we were focusing only on getting up to Croke Park and giving it a best shot."

And to get a result. Long associated with silken attackers and pretty hurling, this most recent win was crafted on rawer virtues. During the last 20 edgy and fitful minutes, the back-six soaked up a period of Tipperary pressure and the forwards finally broke free to strike the decisive scores.

"It was strange how the pattern developed all right," says Feeney. "We started that bit better, but I think early in the second half they were coming at us very strongly. But we weathered that and the bit of character began to show and with five minutes left, I really believed that we would do it."

The Athenry defender began hurling at senior level for the county in 1996, establishing himself as a formidable presence in the full-back line. That year's semi-final against Wexford was one which perhaps got away, a learning experience for Mattie Murphy.

"There are still a few of the lads from that day playing and Mattie knows a lot of the younger players from under-age training. We all learned from that day and I think that the same mistakes won't be made again. Mattie had a fine insight into the game, he knows his players well and we are starting to take steps ahead now."

But for the traumatic second half against Kilkenny in the inaugural quarterfinal series a year later, Galway might have made steps forward.

Up nine points at the break, Galway were somehow dragged down and humbled by their older, more seasoned opponents. The collective trauma of the experience left its mark.

"They came at us out of nowhere. We had problems - we were missing (Joe) Rabbitte and maybe the big lead made us sit back a bit. But DJ was hurling out of his skin that day and we just couldn't answer them when it mattered."

On Sunday, Galway seek their first All-Ireland place since 1993, while Kilkenny are chasing their third-consecutive spot. It is a match which shimmers with potential.

"Well, Kilkenny's record is considerable, they have been up there for the past few years and, given the way games between us have gone, I'd imagine they are confident enough that they can return to the final. It won't be easy, but we have a game behind us now and we'll go up with that in mind."