A day for the history books as Galway giant-killers lay waste to the Kingdom

IT WAS a day to remember as giant-killers Galway defeated the Kingdom in a championship victory for the first time in 53 years at Croke Park.

Kerry fans were left bitterly disappointed with the final scoreline of 1-13 to 1-10 in Galway’s favour in the Super 8s.

The loss in front of a 30,740 crowd at Croker was almost too much to bear for the Kingdom, so accustomed are they to being champions.

Galway fans JJ Cummins and daughter Megan (16) were understandably elated at the win – and didn’t shed a tear for the heartbroken Kerry contingent. “We’re delighted because we didn’t expect it and we absolutely deserved it because Galway were the better team on the day and Kerry, I think underestimated us,” JJ said. “They’ve had some easy wins lately and I don’t think they were prepared for Galway today. “We don’t feel a bit sorry for Kerry because they’re so accustomed to winning.” Nicola Comer, from Galway, was never in any doubt about the outcome.

“We came to the game with confidence and we showed what we are made of. I just knew we would win. We are just delighted and it was a great atmosphere at Croke Park,” she said. Hugh Crean, from Castlegregory, Co Kerry, was there with his son Darragh and his brother Hugh. He was “disappointed” by both the loss and the atmosphere. “I thought we’d play better. But we were perhaps a little naive. We didn’t expect Galway to be a threat, perhaps,” he said.

“I thought the atmosphere wasn’t great either. It was half dead, so I think a lot of people were at home watching the World Cup final and the weather put others off.” Earlier on, Monaghan gained a late score to achieve an impressive 0-15 to 1-10 win over Kildare.

It was the perfect result for Monaghan couple Patrick and Marian McCarville, who brought their nine-month-old daughter Brea to her first match at Croke Park. For Patrick, it was a case on onwards and upwards.

“It gives us a fantastic opportunity to get to the first All-Ireland semi -final in many years,” he said.

At Croke Park were, above, Nichola Comer, Emer Walsh and Caoimhe Ryan; top right, JJ Cummins and daughter Meghan (16); and, bottom right, Patrick and Marian McCarville with daughter Brea. Photos: Colin O’Riordan. Inset left: Eoghan Kerin of Galway....