They summon grace through dazed and stricken faces. After a wondrous, winding summer comes this, a harrowing half-hour in a bright dressing-room, soaring promise crashing about them.

Mick O'Dwyer takes counsel with friends for a lengthy period before offering a gentle summation of a black day for the all whites.

"We had a number of players carrying injuries into that game and I suppose it didn't help but, on the day, Galway were a better team, they were the sharper team and when they got the goal, they were on fire after that. But their point just before half-time was the one that really crucified us.

"It's amazing the difference - one score just before half-time, it brought them to within a goal straight away, the last kick of the half. And then we had a chance early on which we didn't take and they finished theirs. They were belting balls over from all quarters."

Their preparation could hardly have been more traumatic, with key players falling away as the hour approached.

"Well, Ronan Quinn was gone and Glen Ryan also carried an injury into it and Brian Lacey too had a hamstring. There was a doubt about him but, I mean, you can't be complaining about things like that. It's all about the 15 you have on the pitch and that's the way it goes. It's been a great season, to win a Leinster title and to go on and then Kerry . . . you know, beating the last three All-Ireland finalists and then it doesn't come in the final . . . but sure that's sport."

Brian Lacey has spent his summer corroding polished reputations and for the first 35 minutes yesterday it looked as though he might complete a flawless year. But the initial, blinding sequence of the second half left him dazed.

"They got the goal at the start of the second half and it was probably the worst moment of the game they could have gotten it. And we were stunned for two minutes and they got two quick points. We were always fighting back after that."

Lacey trotted in at the break unaware of the score, just had a vague notion that his team were ahead.

"What was in it, a point or something? We had played Galway earlier and we knew they would open it up in the second half. That's exactly what happened, and their forwards were excellent in defence as well as attack, going back to hassle our midfield.

"But, ah, fair play to them, like, if there was to be any other team in Ireland other than Kildare to win this year, I'd pick Galway as the team l'd like to see."

Karl O'Dwyer sits quietly beside Christy Byrne, sad-eyed and accepting.

"I thought our midfield did quite well in patches but Galway picked up everything. I don't think the ball came into our half for the first 20 minutes of the second half. I don't think I touched the ball during that period.

"But Galway got some massive scores and the crowd got behind them and I think in the end, Galway did to us what they did to most teams all year."

Before they rise to leave, Mick O'Dwyer rises to address them for a final time.

"We had some games this year, lads, but overall today Galway were the better team in the second half. And we have to accept it, lads.

"So there is no point in being too down. I've been in this situation before as a player and a manager. It's part and parcel of football. And you are all young enough to come back next year," he adds softly before thanking them for the effort.

His words stir Glen Ryan, who makes a small speech of his own.

"We have handled our victories well all year," he concludes.

"It's important that we handle this defeat in the same manner."

They don't know any other way. Things aren't terminal.