All-Ireland SHC Final Focus on key personalitiesIan O'Riordan talks to forward Niall Healy, who was about to be substituted in the semi-final against Kilkenny but ended up scoring a hat-trick
No matter what happens in the All-Ireland hurling final Niall Healy already has a tale of this summer to tell the grandchildren. Being the youngest player to take the field on Sunday he'd laugh at the thought of grandchildren, but the three goals Healy scored against Kilkenny in last month's semi-final were unforgettable in terms of both timing and execution.
Here's the scene: it's 43 minutes into the match and Kilkenny have fought back to draw level - 3-9 to Galway's 2-12. Healy is the Galway full forward and has scored 0-0. He glances at the sideline and sees Kevin Broderick, his automatic replacement, warming up. Make or break time.
A minute later Richie Murray's thundering shot is saved by James McGarry, but Healy makes no mistake with the rebound - 1-0. Minutes later Peter Barry concedes a free for backchat. Healy collects it, turns John Tennyson, and bang - 2-0. Minutes after that Alan Kerins is the third provider and Healy kicks the ball into the net - 3-0. With 13 minutes left to play Galway have re-established an advantage, and this time there's no surrender.
Healy now has more goals than points this summer (four goals, three points). When he thinks back on that hat-trick all he can do is wonder, as if he can't help it if he's lucky. "It was a fact that I was coming off," he admits. "I spotted Kevin Broderick on the sideline, and said to myself I better do something quick. Luckily I got the break then, and stuck one away. That gave me a bit of confidence, and I stuck away two more. I'm actually still a little shocked that we actually won, and I certainly wasn't expecting to get three goals.
"Luck has played a big part for me this year, to be honest. I mean I was very close to being taken off the last day and I got those three lucky breaks. But then full forward is definitely my favourite position. If it goes well you can get breaks off the other five forwards, whereas if you're in the corner it's usually only the guy beside you."
Healy draws a look of disbelief when he's asked about his rise on to the Galway team. He's just turned 20, playing in All-Ireland senior final, and less than a year ago it was all still a dream. Although he was called into the senior panel last November, he didn't seem to be causing much of a stir as the season progressed.
"I started the league game against Wexford," he recalls, "and didn't even get a jersey for the next two games. I was wondering where I was at. The training games were going well enough and once the weather cleared up a little I think it suited me. But of course Eugene Cloonan not coming back was a bonus for me too.
"But I'm still in shock really. I've grown up looking at the 1988 videos, and wishing some day that I'd be out there. So I can't believe I'm actually in an All-Ireland final. Hopefully we can pull it off now."
Healy won't be lost in the sense of occasion, because he knows what it's like to lose. Two years ago he scored 1-10 in the All-Ireland minor final and was still on the end of a one-point defeat to Kilkenny. Just a week later he came on for the Galway under-21s who also lost their All-Ireland final to the same opposition.
Since then Healy has discovered exactly what it means to step up a gear in hurling. He entered Limerick IT and fell under the coaching of Clare goalkeeper Davy Fitzgerald, who ultimately led the team the Fitzgibbon Cup.
"He's a great trainer," says Healy. "He was saying all year that if we did what he told us it would stand to us, and make us for the year. And it has. But we did an awful lot. A lot of early mornings, because Davy is a great man for strengthening the mind.
"We did our time on Cratloe hill as well, and I never want to see that place again. We'd also meet at 5.0 in the mornings in January. It was cruel, but it was worth it. And I'd do it again next year again."
Right now though Healy's mind is entirely focused on Cork - and particularly their full back Diarmuid O'Sullivan. There won't be a bigger contrast on the pitch on Sunday, but Healy knows exactly what he needs to do.
"Obviously we'll be keeping the ball as low as possible, because I'd be wasting my time going up for the high ball with Diarmuid O'Sullivan. He's a great player, but I'll just do my best and see what happens. He's been dominating the full-back position for maybe 10 years now.
"I know I mightn't be in the game for 45 minutes, but if I get the one chance then I'll have to stick it away. I think all six Galway forwards are quick. I suppose David Forde is probably the only big player we have in there. The pitch does suit us as well. So in a way we've nothing to lose against Cork because they are the All-Ireland champions."
Though he's probably the least experienced player, he doesn't have to go far for advice as his brother Fergal - among the most experienced - starts at midfield. He mightn't get three goals this time but Healy is determined to make the most of it. "I can't wait", he says, and you know he means it.
