Killererin 1-9 Milltown 0-10

Sheer class should always come out in a final and Padraic Joyce has spent most of his career doing just that, the latest instalment coming Pearse Stadium yesterday as he guided Killererin to their fifth Galway SFC title.

All year Killererin have been coming back from impossible situations, forcing replays against Salthill/Knocknacarra and NUIG in the last two rounds from near impossible situations.

WINNER . . . Killererin captain Padraic Joyce with the Frank Fox Cup on Sunday. Photo: Declan Monaghan.

But in Sunday's final they seized the initiative from early on and while Milltown staged a brave second-half revival, Killererin are a team with limitless character and they were never going to be caught.

Skipper Joyce was to the forefront of nearly everything Killererin did despite the close attentions of Diarmuid Blake ? the county colleagues did not spare each other throughout ? and in the end was the reason Milltown were deprived what would have been their third crown and first since 1981.

"We are a small club but we are a team with heart and that was obvious out there again. It is an honour to captain a team like this because you know they will never let you down.

"We knew we would have a tough battle against Milltown, they are have been great all year but we never doubted ourselves and that was vital," said Joyce.

Joyce's experience was to prove crucial and he took control of the game at vital junctures to ensure that they secured the crown.

This was especially vital in the second-half as Milltown, who had knocked out reigning champions Corofin and another former All-Ireland club winning side Caltra en route to the final, came storming back into the contest.

Milltown, appearing in their first final in 20 years, needed a good start and they got in the form of points from Fergal Nicholson and Damien Brennan after Joyce had landed a free in the first minute.

But Milltown were stunned after nine minutes when Joyce set up All-Ireland minor winner Tomas Fahy who blasted home a superb goal.

Milltown responded well initially with Brennan getting his second point and Ciaran Murphy converting a free to make it 1-2 to 0-4 after 14 minutes but Milltown were not to score again in the opening half.

Killererin, dominating in the midfield exchanges, took control and while Darren Mullaghy kept his county colleague Nicky Joyce quiet, they were unable to control his cousin Padraic.

He kicked a great point from 50 yards before Milltown suffered a big set-back when former All-Ireland winning goalkeeper Alan Keane did superbly to deny Sean Hehir from close range.

Jonathan Keane increased Killererin's lead following a disruption after one of several dust-ups broke out, while Padraic Joyce held off three challenges to kick another point.

They finished the half strongly with Padraic and cousin Nicky landing points to give them a six points interval advantage.