Donoghue pleased with Galway's poise
By John Harrington
Galway manager Micheál Donoghue was pleased with the poise his players showed to finally see off Kilkenny in yesterday’s see-saw Leinster SHC Final replay.
Having led by 12 points near the end of the first-half, Galway saw their advantage cut to the minimum by the 55th minute as Kilkenny staged a stirring second-half comeback.
Lesser teams would have panicked, but Galway didn’t. They upped through the gears again in the remaining 15 minutes plus injury-time to outscore Kilkenny by eight points to two on their way to a second Leinster SHC title in a row.
“All credit to Kilkenny for coming back, but our boys showed no panic, their use of the ball, their determination and quality and bravery to use the ball at that stage was very evident,” said Donoghue.
“Look obviously just delighted now to get over the line.
“They totally understand the responsibility that goes with wearing that jersey. We got off to a massive start. We knew after last week, we'd have to try to impose our own game on it.
“They done that brilliantly. But look testament to Kilkenny, they came back in total Kilkenny fashion and style. It was some game and some game for us to win.”
Galway were magnificent in the first half as they raced into a 1-15 to 0-6 lead.
Galway's Jonathan Glynn and Kilkenny's Padraig Walsh contest a high ball in the Leinster SHC Final replay.
Their intensity levels were markedly higher than they had been in the drawn Leinster Final as they dominated Kilkenny physically in all areas of the pitch.
“We said many times, no two games are going to be the same and they're never going to be. Obviously after last week, I said immediately after, there were some elements of the game that we weren't too happy with.
“Some of it Kilkenny forced upon us, so we knew we had to come out of the traps early. Look the lads, it is really hard and people mightn't comprehend how hard it is to turn around in seven days. So the first part of the week is just about recovery.
“The latter part is just focusing then on areas of improvement from the previous week. But look you know I've said many times, these boys have massive experience both good and bad.
“They always draw on it you know and they showed huge quality and huge leadership throughout the week and most importantly huge desire to go on and win the game.”
Their dominance in the middle third ensured that Galway were able to get a good supply of quality ball into their inside-forward line of Conor Whelan, Jonathan Glynn, and Cathal Mannion who hit a combined tally of 1-11 from play.
Glynn was a late addition to the team in place of Conor Cooney, and it was a master-stroke from Donoghue because the big Ardrahan man was a hugely effective wrecking ball.
“He was motoring well for us,” said Donoghue. “Look it's not just about Johnny, we've a massive squad.
“The competition to get into the team, to get into the match day squad, huge competition. We've a few weeks again for everyone to put the shoulder to the wheel and put the hands up.”
