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Eanna Ryan of Galway and John Henderson of Kilkenny during the 1987 All-Ireland final.

'We couldn't afford to lose a third All-Ireland' - Galway legend reflects on famous win in stirring video

Pete Finnerty looks back at a huge day in sport for the county.

THIRTY YEARS ON, Galwayโ€™s famous 1987 All-Ireland hurling triumph is still very special for the Tribesmen.

Having fallen at the final hurdle so often in recent memory โ€” nine times in the last 36 years โ€” the rare successful days still stand out prominently for Galway fans.

The Tribesmen went on to win a second successive Liam MacCarthy in 1988, the countyโ€™s last success, but the 1987 victory against Kilkenny, coming on the back of All-Ireland defeats in โ€™85 and โ€™86, firmly stands out in the eyes of Galway legend Pete Finnerty.

โ€œIn 1987 most of us approached it with a hatred to lose. We couldnโ€™t afford to lose a third All-Ireland in a row,โ€ the five-time All-Star recalls in a powerful Supermacโ€™s Sports video.

โ€œWe were probably more fearful of that than we were looking forward to winning the All-Ireland. I think that motivation drove us on.

โ€œI remember when the final whistle went it was a feeling of โ€˜thank God we havenโ€™t lost another oneโ€™.

โ€œThe โ€™87 victory probably united us more with the Galway fans than the loss because in victory everything is lifted, everything is better, every day is brighter.โ€
https://www.facebook.com/supermacsofficial/videos/10155512633424879

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