GAA: What we learned from Galway's triumph in the All-Ireland hurling final
By Sean McCarthy
Last Updated: 05/09/17 3:51pm
As the dust settles on a super All-Ireland Hurling final, we look at the major aspects of the 0-26 to 2-17 win for Galway.
Galway's bench contributed greatly
Prior to the final, many thought it would be Waterford's bench that would have a bigger influence on the game with Maurice Shanahan and Brian O'Halloran good for getting the crowd going and contributing to the scores.
However, it was Galway's bench that outscored Waterford's 0-04 to 0-02. Shanahan came on in the 22nd minute for the injured Shane Bennett and remained scoreless for the rest of the game.
O'Halloran got one point and Tommy Ryan got the other but for Galway, Niall Burke came on with a point to prove after getting dropped for Johnny Glynn. Burke got 0-02 after coming on for Glynn in the 42nd minute and Jason Flynn also got 0-02 after he came on for Cathal Mannion in the 54th minute.
Experience told in the end
For Galway, 18 of the current panel were part of the 2015 final, with 12 of them starting the game, Conor Cooney and Shane Moloney coming on as subs and James Skehill, Gearoid McInerney and Joseph Cooney unused subs.
Kevin Moran and Brick Walsh were the only two players on the Waterford panel that have experience of All-Ireland final day, having played in 2008.
Galway started explosively, hitting 0-04 before Waterford got their opening goal through Kevin Moran but by the 15th minute, the Tribesmen were 0-09 to 1-02 up.
Waterford levelled the game in the 22nd minute with a lucky goal from Kieran Bennett and did have a good period leading up to half-time but Canning made sure they went into the lead by a point at the break.
Galway pulled away from Waterford in the last 10 minutes and Waterford didn't have any reply, apart from a few bad wides.
Points wins games for Galway, not goals
Coming into this final, Galway had only found the net twice, both times in their opening Leinster championship game against Dublin.
With Waterford playing the sweeper system, the chances of them adding to this tally was slim so they worked diagonal balls into the half-forward line instead and picked up some great scores from distance.
Apart from Johnny Glynn, all their forwards, including subs Niall Burke and Jason Flynn scored. Midfielders Johnny Coen and captain David Burke contributed to the scoreline too.
For Waterford, only Pauric Mahony and Brick Walsh, along with subs Brian O'Halloran and Tommy Ryan scored.
Joe Canning finally gets his hands on a Celtic Cross
It was third time lucky for Joe Canning as the Portumna forward finally became an All-Ireland senior hurling champion after defeats in the 2012 and 2015 finals.
Canning dropped back to the half-forward line and with forwards like Conor Whelan, Conor and Joe Cooney, Cathal Mannion and Niall Burke, the Tribesmen aren't looking to solely rely on the 28-year-old for scores now.
He still contributed 0-47 of Galway's total of 2-128 in the championship this season and is no longer the best player to never win an All-Ireland anymore.
Galway can be a force
Of the current panel, only Colm Callanan, Jame Skehill, Aidan Harte and Cyril Donellan were alive when Galway last won the All-Ireland senior hurling title in 1988 and Harte was only a month old at the time.
The average age of the Galway panel is only 24.6 years, with goalkeeper Colm Callanan bringing the average up with his 34 years on the clock.
Kilkenny have regressed from the glory years as key players have retired and Tipperary are beatable, as Galway proved in the All-Ireland semi-final, not to mention Cork's shock Munster victory over the 2016 All-Ireland champions.
Galway supporters waited 29 years for Liam, they will not have to wait that long again with this panel.
The All-Ireland SFC final between Dublin and Mayo will be shown LIVE on Sky Sports Arena on Sunday, September 17 from 2.30pm.
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