IN different circumstances it might have been pleasant to hear a Tipperary official say that present day hurling standards are judged by "how you do against Galway". But in the wake of a deserved Tipperary victory in the replayed All Ireland minor final at Croke Park yesterday it may well have sounded so sickeningly patronising to the ears of the disconsolate young Galwav men.

Tipperary's two point victory was built on limitless spirit and belief in their ability - they overcame a deficit of seven points at half time. But the victory will be remembered more for its termination of a 14 year lapse at this level rather than for the quality of the hurling.

More was expected from both sides in terms of skills and stick craft following the much higher levels of the drawn match.

Galway, trying for a third successive title, were suitably placed when leading by 2-9 to 1-5 at the interval, having played with the advantage of a storm rather than a wind.

Their failure to capitalise on early attacks in the second half signalled the beginning of their second period woes.

Soon the waves of serious attacks were relentlessly flowing towards the Galway posts.

Whereas in the first half the opportunities were regularly laid on for inspiring Galway attackers in Eugene Cloonan, Rory Gantley and Ronan Cullinane, it was now the turn of Eugene O'Neill and Mick Kennedy to prove their mettle.

O'Neill, who remarkably went scoreless in the first half, began to reveal his true menace to the Galway defence, even though his personal tally of 1-8 was accrued, with the exception of one point, from placed balls.

Kennedy was robbed of a couple of goals at least one in each half by the superb goalkeeping artistry of Nigel Murray.

The fact that Cloonan's two first half goals were drilled home from a free and a penalty went some way towards easing concern in the Tipperary dressingroom at half time.

We were not as concerned as if he had got them from play, and anyway we always knew we had the ability up front to get back into it with wind advantage in the second half," said Tipperary coach Dinny Cahill.

Cahill also saw a flaw in the Galway approach: "They were carrying the ball at us and we knew they could not keep that up for 60 minutes," he said.

Still, Tipperary had to make a number of shrewd second half changes to eventually swing the tide their way. The introductions of Paddy O'Brien and Eddie Carey were well judged, but misfortune struck when star midfielder Michael Ryan could not resume for the second half due to a eye injury.

The spirit of the Tipperary squad was reflected in Ryan's tears when he learnt he was to take no further part.

Tipperary gradually eroded the Galway lead in the way that Galway had done in the drawn game. Tipperary's renewed vigour in the second half was a defining feature. Noel Lane, the Galway manager was the first to admit: "They took their chances, we didn't.

Nonetheless, there was a strong feeling of resentment in the Galway dressingroom regarding Cork referee Joe O'Leary's handling of the match.

"We deserved a few more frees," said Lane, who was particularly annoyed at the way Rory Gantley was treated in this respect.

Gantley started in the corner of attack and soon moved out to the forty to display well honed talents. When he was abruptly stopped in transit in the second half, Western supporters became particularly irked.

His comrade in arms, Eugene. Cloonan, was well policed by Fergal Heaney, the Tipperary full back, in the second half. The Tipperary player sustained a leg injury in the dying seconds and was stretchered away in obvious stress.

Cloonan was a huge threat to the very end and his kicked effort went close to swinging it for the Galway side in the closing minute. Tipperary corner back Thomas Costelloe also had to make a timely interception to avert the danger with time almost up.

Yet, Tipperary had the largest share of ill luck in a hectic finish when Paddy O'Brien and Kennedy (again) were unlucky not to score and Aidan Doyle missed a goal chance by inches.

Tipperary selector Paudi Butler was being honest when he told the Galway players afterwards that they had as much right as Tipperary to win it. The quality of this particular Tipperary squad, 12 of which will be available next year, was identified at the outset of the season.

"The quality of players in the squad was so impressive that we had said from the beginning, if we fail to win an All Ireland this year it would be the fault of the selectors and not the players," said Dinny Cahill.

Cahill had no doubt that this victory will be of huge significance to Tipperary's under 21 and senior fortunes in the years ahead.