A margin of 11 points would suggest that Galway strolled calmly through this Connacht hurling final at Hyde Park on Saturday evening. The stark fact, however, is that Galway stumbled through it and left many question marks.

While they were never under any great threat, they were far from impressive. The concession of three goals and 13 points casts considerable doubt on their ability to rescale the hurling heights.

Among the worries which will exercise Cyril Farrell, the Galway manager, and his selectors will be the defence and the midfield. In addition, the dependence on the accuracy of Daragh Coen must cause some doubts about the attack and some hard work will be needed if better performances are to be expected.

Neutrals will have come away with admiration for the Roscommon players who were never overwhelmed despite their massive defeat in last year's final.

Most impressive was Colm Kelly at midfield. His outstanding performance was almost matched by Adrian Tully in the Roscommon goal, who brought off some top-class saves, and Marty Healy at centre half back, Brendan Boyle at centre forward and Pat Regan all kept Roscommon in the match with fine performances.

On the Galway side, several highly rated players failed to live up to their reputations, notably Joe Rabbitte, Francis Forde, Ollie Fahy and Kevin Broderick.

It was Coen who really caught the eye, with a contribution of a goal and 13 points - 10 of the points from frees. He deserved his big tally after an almost impeccable performance and one can only wonder what Galway would have done without him.

Galway would seem to have a major concern about their midfield. They lost Michael Coleman through injury after 23 minutes and with Kelly controlling the area, Martin Kenny was withdrawn to be replaced by Nigel Shaughnessy, with Joe Rabbitte also moving to the middle.

Things seemed to be going according to plan for Galway until the 19th minute. They were leading by eight points to three when Roscommon struck for their first goal. It came from a brilliantly struck line ball by Mickey Cunniffe which dropped into the goalmouth, where Pat Regan whipped it to the net.

This was quickly followed by Tully's first fine save and Galway were never quite comfortable until they scored their first goal. A lengthy puck-out by Richard Burke was grabbed by Rabbitte, who found Alan Kerins with a fine pass. Kerins drove it home to help Galway to a half-time lead of 1-12 to 1-8.

Roscommon started the second half with a flourish, three points without reply bringing them within a point of the champions. But a beautiful sideline cut by Martin Kenny and a point from play by Kenny settled the Galway nerves.

Galway might have taken a tight grip on the game at this juncture but for two brilliant saves by Tully. Broderick set up Fahy for the first effort which Tully foiled; Fahy then went on his own, only to have his second effort saved also.

Galway's second goal had a touch of controversy about it. The Roscommon defenders claimed that Coen was in the small square when he knocked a deflection past Tully.

At this stage Galway held a sixpoint lead, which they stretched to 2-16 to 1-11 by the 15th minute of the second half. But then Kelly drove another splendid sideline cut into the danger area and Brendan Boyle rammed it home to reopen doubts in the Galway mind.

But they steadied again and held a 2-21 to 2-11 ascendancy in the last quarter when Roscommon struck once more. Kelly drove the ball fiercely past the Galway goal-minders after a penalty had been awarded for a foul on Boyle.

From then on, however, Galway tightened their grip on the match and Rabbitte recovered some parity for their midfield as Roscommon's effort flagged. But Roscommon can look back with some satisfaction on a courageous display.

Farrell was less than happy with his Galway side. "We will need to improve considerably if we are to go any further against the kind of opposition we will have to face," he said. "I was pleased that we came back strongly after Roscommon's goals but then we should not have conceded them in the first place.

"I'm happy just the same that we got a good hard match under our belts and I believe that we will have learnt quite a bit and we will put that into action next time out."