This time last year, Galway's minors had not even played a game in their quest for the Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship. Their season began on May 21st with victory over Clare in the All-Ireland quarter-final round robin stage.
By the final whistle in Friday night's Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Hurling Championship final against Kilkenny - a game Galway won 2-20 to 0-14 - they'd played five.
"It's great for us as a panel to have the exposure," Galway goalkeeper Shane Murray told Galway Bay FM about his side being allowed into the provincial championship for the first time.
"Last year, I was part of the panel and we were still training in Loughgeorge or Kenny Park on evenings like this. This is where you want to be. You want to be in Portlaoise playing a Leinster final beating the likes of Kilkenny."
12 May 2023; Galway goalkeeper Shane Murphy in action against Ed Dermott of Kilkenny during the Electric Ireland Leinster GAA Hurling Minor Championship Final match between Kilkenny and Galway at Laois Hire O’Moore Park in Portlaoise, Laois. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
Galway manager Fergal Healy said he hopes "this is something that will be in place from now on."
"I think it's important," Healy continued.
"The Kilkenny lads acknowledged that afterwards when I spoke to Niall (Bergin) and David Buggy. They were saying that it's great to have us here. They wanted the hard games. They want to learn from it, and come on from it. This is our fifth game. This time last year, we didn't even have one game played. This is the difference."
Galway led by seven points at half-time on Friday but midway through the second half, Kilkenny began to close to gap. A sensational point from centre-forward Colm Burke edged the Tribesmen back to a six-point advantage.
"I thought Colm's point was a key point," said Healy.
"They had us under the kosh, and it was back to four or five at that stage. They were getting a bit of momentum. It was a shot that we wouldn't be encouraging them to take every time but he nailed it. I was behind where he struck it and it literally went over the black spot. We kicked on again from that, so that was important."
#KILvGAL 47 nóim@KilkennyCLG 0-11@Galway_GAA 1-14
Bhí Rabbitte "ag snámh i láimhe" dar le @NWaldron45 ach faigheann Colm Burke scór sa deireadh 🏊
Burke with this excellent score for Galway!
Beo / Live anois ar @TG4TV @gaaleinster @ElectricIreland pic.twitter.com/wxNp8bf2et
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) May 12, 2023
Galway will play Munster runners-up Cork in their All-Ireland semi-final.
"We have to refocus," said Healy.
"They'll enjoy the evening, enjoy the night, and tomorrow and Sunday, we'll get ready for next week.
"They're very good underage teams. We saw them during the week. Clare were very good. We've played both teams. We have a fair idea what they're like.
"Cork, obviously, coming off the back of a defeat are going to be dangerous - they'll want to rectify that. Cork have some serious players all around the pitch. I keep saying to the lads that this is what we want. It's brilliant for these boys, they're going from Portlaoise tonight to play in Thurles tomorrow week."
In Pictures: At First Attempt, Galway Win Leinster Minor Hurling Title
