Fintan O Curraoin paid tribute to Galway's defence after Saturday's sensational All-Ireland U21FC semi-final victory over Kildare.

The Lilywhites ran up a massive wides tally (19), but the Galway captain still felt his defence deserved enormous credit.

"I put it down to our backs," he is quoted as saying in the Irish Daily Mirror.

"I think there were five or six blocks in the first half alone. When you see a block like that, it really drives a team on, especially in the forwards. When you get chances (after that), you know you've got to take them."

By comparison, the Tribesmen registered only five wides and this was something that obviously pleased O Curraoin.

"Against Roscommon, we dropped a lot of ball (short) and kicked a lot of ball wide, so in the last few weeks training we really focussed on that. Thankfully, we used the possession a lot better today and that's what we needed." Tweet

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