For nearly an hour everything was going to plan, but it all unravelled in the crucial last 13 minutes. Six points ahead Galway were motoring well, Waterford were in deep bother, and the signs suggested that the maroons would close the deal for the third week in succession.
Waterford, though, ploughed on defiantly. Dan Shanahan was summoned from the bench, and announced his arrival with an early fetch under pressure. Shanahan dragged his shot wide, but he remained cool, and gathered a few more aerial deliveries which ultimately ensured it was Waterford who prevailed.
While Galway’s passion and purpose had brought them to the brink of another victory it scarcely mattered. Waterford celebrated like only they can, and Galway were left reflecting on what might have been. In sport few things are worse.
That Galway deserved to win was a mere postscript. A tigerish defence severely restricted Waterford’s much vaunted attack. Eugene McEntee had the measure of Eoin Kelly, John Mullane was high on perspiration, but Fergal Moore, Ollie Canning, and Damien Joyce put in sterling shifts.
Despite Galway’s grit and determination Davy Fitzgerald eventually unleashed Shanahan, and the Deise were saved. With a significant height advantage over McEntee Shanahan emerged as the key protagonist crafting a goal for fellow replacement Shane Walsh, who converted with real aplomb.
The major narrowed the deficit to the minimum, and then Shanahan plucked another high ball that was being rained down on the Town end in Thurles as Waterford opted for a direct approach. Davy Fitzgerald acknowledged Shanahan’s influence on the contest. “We fought hard, never gave up the ghost. Things went against us and we kept coming back, kept coming back, kept coming back. I'm just delighted for Dan. It's not been easy for him sitting on the sideline, but he came on and turned the match in the end.”
John McIntyre, who has steered Galway impressively throughout the year, didn’t attempt to decorate the grim reality that this was a cruel reversal. “I have lost many matches by a point and I am still only getting over a few of them. So now I have to start all over again. It is much easier when you are beaten by nine or 10 points because there are no ifs, buts, or maybes and no post-mortems, no inquests. You are just beaten by a better team.”
The afternoon had started so encouragingly for Galway. Joe Canning was a threat inside even managing to kick an improbable point during a first half in which Aonghus Callanan and Andy Smith’s relevance to the Galway cause was underlined.
Callanan and Smith carried out their duties with commendable honesty, and with Waterford’s marque forwards ailing at the opposite end the interval cushion of 0-11 to 0-7 didn’t accurately reflect Galway’s supremacy.
In the third quarter Galway continued to contain Waterford, and by the 57th minute had edged a half dozen points clear. Waterford were efficient, Kelly was nailing the frees keeping them in contention. Fitzgerald was forced to make changes, and it was the veteran Shanahan, who thundered into the fray packed with the necessary enthusiasm to make an impact. Unfortunately for Galway Shanahan’s touches were sufficiently crafty to nudge the Tribesmen out of the All Ireland reckoning.
Waterford: C Hennessy; E Murphy, D Prendergast, N Connors; T Browne, M Walsh, A Kearney; K Moran (0-2 ), S O'Sullivan; J Nagle, S Prendergast (0-1 ), S Molumphy; J Mullane (0-1 ), E Kelly (0-12, 11fs ), S Casey. Subs: M Shanahan for Nagle (44 mins ), S Walsh (1-0 ) for Casey (54 mins ), D Shanahan for Moran (63 mins ).
Galway: C Callanan; D Joyce, E McEntee, O Canning; F Moore, J Lee, E Lynch; G Farragher (0-2 ), K Hynes; A Callanan (0-2 ), C Donnellan, A Smith (0-1 ); D Hayes (0-3 ), J Canning (0-9, 6fs, 165 ), N Healy. Subs: J Gantley (0-1 ) for Healy (55 mins ), K Hayes for Donnellan (60 mins ).
Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork ).
