GALWAY ARE STILL THE TEAM TO BEAT
IT’S HARD to win an AllIreland final when a team loses most of the big battles on the field. And it’s equally hard to win 50-50 ball when players sent into battle are not 100 per cent fit. Neither Joe Canning nor Gearóid McInerney looked right last Sunday, and when it mattered most of all and Galway desperately needed to win a ball or hold on to a ball that had been hard-won, neither man appeared able for what was required. Galway, of course, should have few enough regrets about losing the game by one point. The truth of it is that they might easily have been beaten by 10 points. There was a hunger and hardiness about everything Limerick did that left the reigning champions at arm’s length. Even not looking himself, Canning was able to summon upon a genius within that resulted in a contribution of 1-10, and his enormous courage was the single greatest reason why Galway almost stole it in the end. Galway needed him every single minute of the game. But, unfortunately, Micheál Donoghue also needed him and McInerney physically imposing themselves on the game as well, which did not happen. For Donoghue, it was a lesson. His team lacked fight, and on a day that they needed every single man fit and able to contest ball as though his life depended on it, they were short of this basic requirement. Limerick were magnificent, and John Kiely and his team were worthy winners of the greatest Championship ever witnessed. It leaves us all wanting more in 2019, and wanting it quickly. And in 2019, with enough regrets having been nursed through the winter, Galway will remain the team for Limerick and everyone else to beat all over again.