Caltra 0-13 An Ghaelteacht 0-12: Spectators go to matches equipped with various pieces of information about the teams - strengths, weaknesses, players to watch and so on. Early indicators are measured against these expectations and a sense of the game is established.
In the fifth minute Declan Meehan, his high-spec engine already purring, motored down the same right-wing runway he had travelled when scoring one of the great All-Ireland final goals for Galway four years ago and this time kicked a point.
At that moment you realised the fuss about his current form in Galway wasn't just hype and that An Ghaeltacht had been exposed by his pace and drive. Not that this meant the match was over; after all the Kerry champions survived a rocky opening in the semi-final before overhauling St Brigid's. But it was a confident opening, a statement of intent by Caltra and a portent that their big names would deliver in a manner that would elude their Kerry counterparts.
This magnificent victory for the tiny Galway club, nearly relegated last season, was more emphatic than the one-point margin might suggest.
In injury-time the Kerry side chased a three-point deficit and trimmed it by two - the last point a snap shot detonated by Dara Ó Cinnéide that flew over the bar and prompted the final whistle from referee Michael Monahan. But it would have been the greatest All-Ireland steal imaginable.
In truth Caltra had competed comfortably up until the final quarter when they tipped the pedal and moved clear. Their sharpness and boundless energy looked constructive and menacing whereas An Ghaeltacht played as if their conviction tank had sprung a leak midway through the second half.
They fumbled good chances, gave the ball away and betrayed a premature nervousness by playing Darragh Ó Sé, who dominated centrefield possession all afternoon, very deep, a ploy that didn't manage to contain the danger posed by Noel and Micheál Meehan.
That was the difference between the teams. Caltra played with the confidence of a team that knew if possession were worked into their inside attack, scores would follow. An Ghaeltacht never exhibited that same sense of confidence, as their forwards snatched and fumbled at chances.
In addition the Caltra defence was at times inspired.
Brian Kilroy had an excellent corner back's match, reading play well and getting his hand in at just the right time in one-to-one confrontations. And when the ball broke loose the backs hoovered it up and generally shifted it to the right wing from where Declan Meehan launched attack after productive attack.
An Ghaeltacht were never able to exert the type of relentless pressure that might have created a fissure.
Roibeard MacGearailt was able to pose an aerial threat at centre forward and kicked two nice points in the first half but otherwise there was little sustained penetration.
The first half was an evenly contested affair that swayed one way and then another. Caltra might have had a goal just before the interval had Shane Hogan peeled off his marker; instead John Galvin had to keep going and his shot was well smothered by Pat Healy. It looked costly for the Connacht club when An Ghaeltacht tacked on two points to take the lead, 0-8 to 0-7, at half-time.
A free from Ó Cinnéide on the restart stretched the margin to two, the biggest lead his side would enjoy but not for long. Marc Ó Sé, who had done well to break up a dangerous attack, was harshly penalised and Micheál Meehan kicked the free. The dead ball kicking of the Meehans was punitively accurate and in open play they were as dangerous.
Noel was a revelation, playing beside his better-known brother. He's been called into the county panel by John O'Mahony and if he can replicate at the top level the intelligent use of ball and cool appraisal of scoring chances that he showed yesterday, even Galway's currently smooth attack will benefit appreciably.
As the match proceeded along its razor's edge Aodán MacGearailt, still not looking free from a recent injury, might have had two goals. But a subtle effort in the 41st minute and a chance created by a fabulous ball from Ó Cinnéide 11 minutes later came to nothing - one well held by Kevin Kilroy and the other fumbled on the turn.
Tomás Ó Sé, who was quiet by the standards of a fine season, launched the attack that Tomás Ó Conchúir finished to level the match for the last time at 0-10 each.
Caltra broke the deadlock and then their opponents' challenge with two long-range frees from Micheál Meehan and a trademark score from his brothers, created by Declan and finished by Noel opened up the unbridgeable lead.
CALTRA: K Kilroy; J Murray, E Meehan, B Kilroy; D Meehan (0-1), K Gavin, O Kelly; T Meehan, D Cunniffe; J Galvin, B Laffey, M Killilea; M Meehan (0-6, four frees and one 45), N Meehan (capt; 0-5, three frees), S Hogan (0-1). Subs: C Kilroy for Laffey (49 mins); O Hennelly for Hogan (58 mins).
AN GHAELTACHT: P Ó hÉalaithe; S MacSíthigh, M Ó Sé, D MacGearailt; R Ó Flaharta, T Ó Sé, B Breathnach; D Ó Sé (capt; 0-1), P Ó Cuinn; C Ó Dubhda, R MacGearailt (0-2), T Ó Conchúir (0-2); C Ó Cruadhlaoich (0-1), D Ó Cinnéide (0-4, three frees), A MacGearailt (0-1). Subs: M MacGearailt for Ó Cruadhlaoich (51 mins); F Ó Sé for Mac Síthigh (57 mins).
Referee: M Monahan (Kildare).
