Kelly highlights Loughrea composure after completing three-in-a-row

Tommy Larkins' Eoghan Nevin and Vince Morgan of Loughrea ©INPHO/James Crombie

Loughrea manager Tommy Kelly hailed his side's composure after Tiernan Killeen's late point secured an historic three-in-a-row of Galway SHC titles.

The holders trailed Tommy Larkins - who were appearing in their first Tom Callanan Cup decider in 55 years - for most of the game before finishing with a flourish at Pearse Stadium.

"The game was an hour long so no panic had set in," Kelly told RTÉ after the 0-17 to 0-16 victory.

"We knew there was more in us, but we also knew we working hard. After winning the last two county finals we knew this game would go down to the wire; we weren't going to give up on it too easy.

"1941 and 2006 were our other two victories and now we have three-in-a-row won. It's phenomenal, it's huge for us."

The winning manager added: "Galway is always a hard championship to navigate your way through and no matter who you play in the final it's going to go down to a point or two.

"I think two points has been the margin in the more recent county finals, certainly in the last seven or eight."