Galway's jubilant Mullins: 'I thought we'd lost it'
Galway boss Vincent Mullins punched the air as his side dramatically came from behind to pip champions Kilkenny for the Erin All-Ireland Under-21 hurling title yesterday.
The Tribe starlets hit the final four points of a pulsating decider, played out in front of 7,360 supporters at Limerick's Gaelic Grounds. The Cats, bidding for a hat-trick of wins at the grade, pulled back from a 1-06 to 1-07 half-time deficit to lead 1-12 to 1-09 going into the closing quarter of an hour.
They maintained that gap until the final six minutes. Galway mounted a late challenge as points from David Collins, one of four players involved from last weekend's senior loss to Cork, substitute Cathal Dervan and two nerveless overs from 2004 minor star Kerrill Wade - the second a brilliant point on the run - saw them somehow steal in for a 1-15 to 1-14 win.
Mullins, who was celebrating his county's first Under-21 win since 1996, said: "To be honest, I thought it was lost, but we got that free (from Kerrill) and I thought we'd at least live to fight another day.
"I was sure it was going to be a draw but thanks be to God, we managed to get that winning point and it was great to see it going through the uprights.
"Kilkenny were a strong team, but this is as sweet a victory as I have ever been involved in. It's a very important win for the county after last week's defeat in the senior final."
