34 and out: Most impressive record in the GAA finally broken as Galway can’t be stopped

Niall McIntyre

Galway 0-14 Kerry 0-13

Galway have done it.

Having won 34 games on the bounce in a run that stretches back to August 2013, Kerry have finally been beaten at the minor age group.

Step up a heroic Galway side who bounced back from a provincial final defeat to Mayo to end the Kingdom’s six-in-a-row bid. And what a performance it was from the Tribesmen.

A slow burner of a game, it wasn’t until the second half when the boys of Galway and Kerry began shooting the lights out but when they did kick into form, it was a pure joy to watch.

For Galway, that man Tomo Culhane, the full forward with the flamboyant first name was the star turn. He was deadly from the frees all day and kicked some showstopping points from open play.

Tomo Culhane: A step and a dummy to match the flamboyant first name ⚡️

Lively minor semi-final unfloding on @SportTG4 pic.twitter.com/v5esvPk2bN

— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) August 11, 2019

The powerful full forward was ably assisted Dylan Brady and Warren Seoige in attack. But while their attackers were impressive, the foundations for this thrilling victory were laid in defence.

Jonathan McGrath was as tenacious a tackler as you’ll see and he did his best to keep Kerry’s star man Dylan Geaney relatively quiet. Ruairi King manned the edge of the square with distinction while Ethan Fiorentini read the play like a book.

The men in maroon were at it from the word go.

They started the brighter in GAA HQ with lively corner forward Daniel Cox causing plenty of problems for the Kerry rearguard. His early point had Donal Ó Fatharta’s side motoring while Seoige and Brady also chipped in.

0-7 0-5 they led at half-time but Kerry kicked back straight away and it wasn’t long before they were in the driving seat. Jack O’Connor kicked a long ranger while Darragh Lynch also exploded into the game.

But Galway wouldn’t die. Culhane kept chipping away, McGrath kept coming out with hard earned balls and they showed guts and bottle down the home straight to win by the bare minimum.

The drive for six is over. Galway and Cork will be some game.

Kerry

Devon Burns, Luke Chester, Alan Dineen, Kieran O’Sullivan, Eoghan O’Sullivan, Adam Curran, Sean O’Brien (0-1), Cathal Ó Beaglaoich, Ronan Collins, Colin Crowley (0-1), Jack O’Connor (0-2), Darragh Lynch (0-3), Dylan Geaney (0-3) ,Gearóid Hassett, Emmet O’Shea (0-3)

Subs

Dylan O’Callaghan for Colin Crowley (39), Kevin Goulding for Emmett O’Shea (55), Tomás Ó hAiniféin for Ronan Collins (57)

Galway

Donie Halleran, Jonathan McGrath, Ruairí King, Liam Tevnan, Cian Hernon (0-1), Ethan Fiorentini, Kyle O’Neill, James McLaughlin, Daniel O’Flaherty, Evan Nolan, Warren Seoige (0-2) Dylan Brady (0-2), Nathan Grainger (0-1) Tomo Culhane (0-6, 0-3f) Daniel Cox (0-1)