Hoho hurling.
All-Ireland champions Galway are only back from a celebratory team holiday. They've had no pre-season games whatsoever.
Manager Michael Donoghue admitted this morning that his Tribe are at least 7 or 8 weeks behind the majority of other hurling teams in the country in terms of the work they've done up to his point.
It can take a while for winning teams to get back into the swing of things the following season, and they often need a wake-up call. By Jesus, Galway got their wake-up call this morning.
Their wake-up call came all the way down from Antrim.
https://twitter.com/AontroimGAA/status/957623604115591168
But still, this is about Antrim. This is all about the Saffron county.
Even though they didn't get off to a flier, they stayed plugging away in Pearse Stadium. Galway were quick blowing off the cobwebs, and raced into a 0-6 to 0-2 lead after 15 minutes of the action.
https://twitter.com/sportsfile/status/957616376419676160
It was a new look Galway side on show in their home pitch. Brian Concannon made his debut in maroon, as did Gort's Jack Grealish and Portumna's Martin Dolphin alongside six of last year's side that started the final.
Conor Cooney was striking well, and raised a couple of white flags early on. But then, then the Saffrons came. And when they came, they meant business.
Neil McManus picked off a long-range beauty. Conor McKinley dissected the posts soon after.
The Antrim army were up for a fight. They went into the half-time interval trialling by one. They came out in the second and made their mark.
Conor McCann's goal gave them the initiative. And they seized it, and opened up a three point lead after 45 minutes of play.
https://twitter.com/AontroimGAA/status/957614954127024134
They went up by three.
https://twitter.com/AontroimGAA/status/957617004558594048
Antrim weren't here to make up the numbers. They were getting excited.
https://twitter.com/AontroimGAA/status/957616893745139713
Galway, like true All-Ireland champions came back.
It went all the way down to the wire, with Galway leading by one deep in injury time. They kicked onto win by three on a scoreline of 1-19 to 1-16.
But fair dues to Antrim. They never took a backward stop.
