Much-improved Galway U-21 footballers take on the Dubs in fascinating final
TWO counties that have produced five of the best U21 football teams this decade, Galway and Dublin, will clash in a mouth-watering All-Ireland final in Tullamore this Saturday (5pm).
In an era of defensive blankets and cautious set-ups, the U21 championship has always been a refreshing tonic, often producing free-flowing, high-scoring, drama-filled matches to restore your faith in Gaelic football.
And the 2017 decider, between two of the big traditional powerhouses, has the potential of turning into a shoot-out with fare that will sate the purists.
This Galway outfit certainly plays with a swashbuckling style, and though they have conceded a fair few scores in the four games to date, they have an abundance of talented players, who on their day will trouble any opponents.
Dublin are no slouches either and racked up big totals in claiming provincial honours; their attack also adapted seamlessly in the semi-final to Donegal’s attempts to smother them by dropping a dozen or more bodies back.
Since the turn of the decade, these sides have won five of the seven finals played. Dublin emerged top-dogs in 2010, 2012 and 2014 while Galway won in 2013 and 2011. And yet a fortnight ago, neither Galway nor Dublin were tipped to be the last two standing.
The Leinster champions had seven points to spare over a much-fancied and highly-regarded Donegal outfit, who admittedly had just five days to recover after their Ulster final success against Derry.
Meanwhile, in the other semi, Galway overcame all the odds to defy bookmakers and pundits by stunning Kerry, the pre-tournament favourites for the All-Ireland.
Dublin manager Dessie Farrell – who kept his powder dry this week, and did not respond to calls from Tribune Sport – is probably reeling from the very public debate over whether his charges chose club or county at the weekend.
Most U21s did not play for their clubs but three from Kilmacud Crokes – Cillian O’Shea, Tom Fox and Dan O’Brien – were unused subs and Callum Pearson did feature. Shane Clayton, a sub against Donegal, aggravated a hamstring injury playing for Ballyboden and is a doubt for the O’Connor Park clash.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.