Galway ended 29 years of hurt with a 0-26 to 2-17 win over Waterford at Croke Park on Sunday in the All-Ireland hurling final.
A pulsating match was in the balance until the final ten minutes when the Tribesmen pulled away from the Deise.
"Yeah it's hard to put it into words," Galway's Joseph Cooney told Off the Ball's Oisin Langan, adding: "You know it's very hard to describe the feeling we're experiencing right now. But I suppose just that sheer joy amongst one another, all our panel members just to embrace after that final whistle was just a feeling I'll never forget I suppose.
"We put our lives on the line for the last number of years and not just this year but it's just surreal. It's hard to put into words.
"There was part of us that would always have little doubts there along the line but I suppose we had a great bunch behind us this year and all 34 of us and the management team will always pull you back into line fairly lively.
"You know, we'd all push in the one way to get over the line and thankfully we got over it. We made hard work of it today but that's testament to Waterford and how good they've been. We're just delighted to get over the line.
Galway's Padraic Mannion and Daithi Burke celebrate after the game. Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
"I don't know was there ever more than two or three points in it bar maybe the first five minutes/ten minutes and then Waterford got the goals and you know after that is was just tit-for-tat. But it just grounded out the introduction of Niall and Jayo really brought that extra bite winning puc-outs, winning frees and then their scores - it's just mighty to have a panel that's strong," he added.
The full post-match interview can be heard here:
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