SHANE MOLONEY WAS Galway’s supersub with the stoppage-time winner that banished Tipperary and booked their place in the All-Ireland final.
Moloney came off the bench with two minutes to play in Sunday’s hurling classic and showed nerves of steel when he collected Joe Canning’s pass and fired over the last-gasp point.
Remarkably it was the 22-year-old’s senior championship debut, though his pedigree has been no secret.
He played three years with the Tribesmen’s minors and captained them on their run to the All-Ireland title in 2011, leading from the front with a brilliant 1-9 in the final against Dublin.
He was at the fore again in the 2014 All-Ireland U21 quarter-finals, scoring 0-6 in the defeat against Wexford.
But he failed to shine when he lined out for the Tribesmen in last week’s intermediate final and managed just two points in the win over Cork.
Galway boss Anthony Cunningham praised the Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry youngster for the determination he showed to force his way into the senior squad.
“Shane wasn’t on the league panel,” Cunningham explained. “He wasn’t fit enough.
“He was with us a couple of times and the harsh reality is we have to let guys go if they’re not at the level.
Shane went away and worked tirelessly and then presented himself.
“We played Wexford in a challenge and we brought him to make up the 15 because we had guys injured. He got two or three goals.”
Cunningham added: “He’s a former minor, has a huge pedigree.
“He’d have been disappointed with his intermediate match the last day but we’ve used that for development.
“He’s one for the future, he has massive skill, and that point today will bring him on a ton.”
