Galway won their fourth All-Ireland Under-21 football title with a 10-points win over Cavan at Croke Park.
All the damage was done in the first half, when the rampant Tribesmen built up an 11 points lead from which the Ulster men were unable to recover.
Patrick Sweeney and Eric Monahan both hit the net to lay the foundations for Galway’s first success at this level since 2006.
In the second half, Cavan’s Barry Reilly had a penalty saved by Manus Breathnach, but they did pull back a late goal through substitute Conor McClarey.
Galway took some time to get into their stride, but once they did, they proved a devastating attacking force.
The Cavan defence was unable to cope with the movement and pace of a fast-moving offensive unit that cut swathes through their opponents’ shaky defensive formation.
Wing-back Joss Moore pushed forward to shoot a couple of points, and Danny Cummins showed blinding speed to race through for a point, when with another stride or two, he could have had a goal.
It wasn’t long, though before the Tribesmen had the ball in the net.
After Mark Hehir and Cummins had shot them into a 0-05 to 0-03 lead, full-forward Patrick Sweeney fisted home at the third attempt, after Tomas Flynn twice hit the bar in a dramatic goalmouth incident, his first effort superbly deflected onto the woodwork by goalkeeper Alan O’Mara.
Hehir and Cummins added to their tallies, and in the 21st minute, Eric Monahan finished off a move involving Michael Boyle and Tomas Fahy to blast home a second Galway goal.
Flynn and Fionntan O Curraoin were lording it at midfield, and at 2-09 to 0-03, it seemed like an eternity since Niall Smith and Barry Reilly had give Cavan hope with early scores.
Reilly and Niall McDermott did add further points, but they trailed by 11 at the break, 2-10 to 0-05.
Prospects for a Breffni comeback were dealt a blow when Manus Breathnach saved a Barry Reilly penalty four minutes into the second half, and moments later Galway centre-back Jonathan Duane made a superb interception as Jack Brady tried to release Packie Leddy on goal.
Cavan, now with the wind in their backs, did pull back points through Niall Murray, Kevin Tierney and McDermott, but the Connacht champions were comfortably able to maintain their healthy lead, with Cummins and Michael Boyle hitting superb points.
They could have had a third goal when Boyle sent Michael Farragher through, but the sub blasted wide.
Galway were never in danger of losing this one, however, even when cavan sub Conor McClarey slid home a late goal with his first touch.
Galway: M Breathnach, G Sweeney, C Forde, A Tierney, J Moore (0-02), J Duane, T Fahy, T Flynn, F O Curraoin, C Doherty (0-01), M Hehir (0-07, 4f), M Boyle (0-02, 1f), D Cummins (0-04), P Sweeney (1-00), E Monahan (1-00).
Subs: A Murphy for Sweeney, M Farragher for Monahan, B Flaherty for Boyle, C Halloran for Fahy, C Silke for Tierney.
Cavan: A O’Mara, M Leddy, O Minagh, D Tighe, K Meehan, D Barkey, M Brady, G McKiernan, F Flanagan (0-01), N Smith (0-1), N Murray (0-1), B Reilly (0-02, 1f), J Brady (0-01, f), N McDermott (0-02), P Leddy.
Subs: P King for M Leddy, T Mooney for Tighe, K Tierney (0-01) for Reilly, N McKiernan for King, C McClarey (1-00) for Meehan
Referee: E Kinsella (Laois)
