Gaelic Games: It has been 28 years since a county last racked up the All-Ireland treble of minor, under-21 and senior titles. Until yesterday. With the first and third already won last week, Kilkenny went looking for the third in Thurles on yesterday's double bill with the Dublin-Waterford under-21 football semi-final.

And their supporters in a crowd of 15,135 weren't disappointed.

Two goals either side of half-time, from Aidan Fogarty and Conor Phelan, were the crucial ingredients in a 2-13 to 0-12 victory against a disappointing Galway, losing their sixth successive final at this grade in the past seven years.

Kilkenny manager Martin Fogarty couldn't be accused of over-hyping the occasion. Asked about the treble, he replied: "I've got to tell you that doesn't matter at all. Winning one is just the job." He went on to analyse the match.

"We were lucky enough to get a few old scores but I'd be giving credit to the clubs that brought these fellas up from seven and eight years of age. One of our selectors, Tom O'Hanlon, had to stay back for a while because he had a football match - believe it or not - to look after.

"The same again yesterday, these boys were all out looking after clubs. That's where it happens. We're just lucky enough to be given the roles of managers and selectors. Our job is only to tog them out."

As with all Kilkenny sides the importance of the collective panel was emphasised.

"We had 38 lads out since the end of January stuck to the ground with the frost down in Thomastown. They're not togged out but they're the boys that did it, kept the pressure on the lads for their places."

He had particular praise for the players who had won senior medals seven days previously.

"The lads were back training on Tuesday night. Begod you couldn't keep those boys out. They wanted to come back on the Monday night after the homecoming but we decided to give them a night off. You couldn't keep them out of the field."

Galway manager John Hardiman conceded the better team had won and reflected on Conor Phelan's goal within seconds of the restart.

"We were in the game at half-time and felt we had a good chance so that was a cruel blow."

Dublin football is in pursuit of its own treble over the next two weekends. The minors are in next week's All-Ireland final and the under-21s yesterday qualified for their final, which is provisionally fixed for Saturday, October 4th, in Navan. The following day the women footballers - The Jackies - go for the county's first senior All-Ireland.

Under-21 and senior manager Tommy Lyons was in good humour after a win that although thoroughly merited was helped along by three streaky goals.

"We worked awful hard but it was that sort of game. We got the breaks and we won't hide from that. But we also took scores well so, overall, I thought we were the better team.

"It was important to win. We do have a lot of good young footballers in Dublin and we're working very hard with them. We'll see what happens against Tyrone.

"We're hoping the minors can win next Sunday and then that we can make it a double. That would be great for Dublin football."

For Waterford manager Pat Nugent this has been a terrific year with the county's first provincial success at this level achieved after wins over Cork and Kerry. As expected, his team battled to the end and he could afford to be optimistic.

"There's eight of them available next year and the future for Waterford football is bright."