Great resilience, to match the splendour of what was easily the most exhilarating minor hurling championship tie so far this season, proved an integral part of Galway's armoury at Croke Park yesterday en route to a second-successive All-Ireland decider appearance in which they will be defending their title against Cork.
The character of a Galway side that showed a higher calibre of awareness once the first-quarter nerves were shed, became clear in the second half and was clinically put to the test during a free-scoring three-minute spell within the final ten minutes.
Offaly had reacted to a six-point deficit in a manner so typical of the county's senior team. Galway looked to be cruising, leading by 2-13 to 1-10 when the haul back by the Leinster champions began with a goal by right corner forward Kevin Kelly.
Within a minute, Neville Coughlan added a point and, seconds later, Dillon Hayden left only a point between the sides.
The danger for Galway became acute at this juncture and they badly needed the quality of a point duly provided by Richard Murray. Damien Hayes laid on the pass and, from fully 70 yards out on the touchline, Murray lofted the ball between the posts at the canal end.
This massive score restored the champions' confidence and David Greene got through once more to expose the weaknesses in the Offaly full-back line for the clinching goal.
Midfielder Barry Coen had no doubts about his side's ability to answer Offaly's late burst. "I always knew we had the heart to fight back when they threatened us. We never under-estimated this Offaly team and we got it really tough in the second half"
And Galway's special brand of resilience was not confined to staving off that late Offaly bid. They recovered from a sluggish start, which saw them slump to a four-point deficit by the 17th minute, to earn parity by half-time - 0-8 apiece. Fifteen of those first-half points, the exception being a 65 by Offaly's Brian Carroll, were scored from play.
Clever strategy by giving corner forward Damien Hayes a roaming role was the secret behind the champions early recovery. Remarkably, Barry Teehan was not given instructions to follow the Portumna youngster, who picked off three-successive points from range.
The biggest satisfaction for Galway manager John Hardiman was the manner in which his players of less experience responded. "Our lesser lights stood up and were counted when the big questions were asked of them.
"It was a typical Offaly display, full of spirit and commitment. Our hearts were in our mouths right to the finish. We came through because we just wanted to win."
Brian O'Mahoney and left wing back Kevin Brady were the real stalwarts of an uncompromising Galway defence and full back Tony Regan did a good job in keeping Rory Hanniffy comparatively quiet. The effectiveness of midfielders Barry Coen and Gerry Farragher caused Offaly to chop and change.
Galway showed their intent from the outset of the second half when David Greene had a third-minute goal and Trevor Kavanagh took a point with Greene, unmarked, screaming for the pass inside.
Kavanagh's golden-goal moment came and was accepted in style by the full foward at a timely juncture. After taking the pass from substitute Joe Gantley, Kavanagh rattled the Offaly net in reply to a Neville Coughlan goal that had left only two points between the sides before the end of the third-quarter.
Gantley, who showed great drive when introduced, sent a screamer off the bar as if to underline Galway's edge.
Galway: A Diviney; B O'Mahoney, T Regan, N Corcoran; S Kavanagh, A Diviney, K Brady; B Coen, G Farragher; R Murray, JP O'Connell, P Garvey; D Hayes, T Kavanagh, D Greene(2-1). Subs: J Gantley for JP O'Connell (40 mins); K Hayes for Garvey (43); A Cullinane for Kavanagh (59).
Offaly: S O'Connor; A Clancy, D Minnock, B Teehan; E Grimes, J Brady, S Browne; M Cordial, A Kenna; B Carroll, G Rafferty, M Coughlan; K Kelly, R Hanniffy, D Hayden. Subs: B O'Meara for Kenna (46 mins); C Dunne for Clancy (51); G Gardiner for Browne (58).
