For the second week in a row, the Galway minor hurlers produced a spectacular reaction to adversity when they came from four points down to stun Kilkenny with two late goals, setting up a clash with Tipperary in the All-Ireland final in three weeks.
The current All-Ireland champions, Kilkenny, looked near certainties to advance to another final when they led by 0-16 to 1-9 with five minutes remaining.
However two substitutes, Jack Kenny and Cian Salmon, had other ideas as they struck two late goals to snatch a stunning win for Jeffrey Lynskey and his management team of Shane Cusack, Gavin Keary and John Commins by 3-10 to 0-17.
Salmon's late late goal, which arrived in the final minute of the game, was a contentious one as Kilkenny supporters and team manager Pat Hoban were adamant the Clarinbridge youngster had been in the square when he connected with Thomas Monaghan's cross field delivery, which should have resulted in a free out.
There was some merit in their claim and it was difficult to say for sure if Salmon was in the square before the ball landed as it was such a high and long delivery.
Either way, match referee Colm Lyons (Cork ) was happy enough and the goal stood, and this resolute team, which had come back from six points behind twice in the drawn game, had again worked the oracle to advance alongside the seniors to the All-Ireland final on Sunday September 6.
Many observers felt Galway were lucky to have beaten Kilkenny last Sunday, and that is a fair point.
However, teams make their own luck and this bunch of young men are tough and resilient and they never seem to know when they are beaten. That is a superb trait in any team and it will give them belief that they can beat what looked an impressive looking Tipperary team in the final.
Team manager Lynskey was delighted with his youngsters' attitude.
“The lads have shown great heart all year, they never give up, and I think the experience of playing in Croke Park last week was a big help, ” said Lynskey.
No more than the seniors, the objective now is to close out the deal and win the final, which would be a tremendous achievement for this panel as many of them are young enough for 2016 too.
Lynskey will no doubt be drilling home to his charges that there is no point in getting to a final unless you win it.
Galway: Darragh Gilligan, Ciarán O’Connor, Jack Fitzpatrick, Shane Bannon, Caelom Mulry, Ian O Brien (0-01 ), Andrew Greaney, Jack Grealish, Jack Coyne (1-02 ), Brian Concannon, T Monaghan (0-01 ), Fintan Burke, Michael Lynch (0-01 ), Evan Niland (0-05, 0-05f ), Seán Loftus.Subs: C Fahy for Grealish (27 ), L Forde for Lynch (43 ), C Salmon (1-00 ) for Burke (45 ), J Kenny (1-00 ) for Concannon (53 ), R Malone for Monaghan (60 ).
