Galway U-21 hurlers make light of low expectations

A tough week for Galway hurling ended on an uplifting note when the county U-21s ended a run of four consecutive All-Ireland semi-final defeats by edging out Dublin after extra time at Semple Stadium last Saturday evening. With nearly as many wides as scores, this was not a game for the purists but the Tribesmen’s greater technique and natural hurling instincts helped to get them over the line.

Of course, it was a big help too that they had senior panellist Brian Molloy in their ranks. He may have missed a few chances, but the young Kilnadeema/Leitrim player was the stand out performer in Thurles. On a windy evening, his free-taking stood up fairly well to the pressure but he also landed some class points from play, especially a terrific effort from the old stand side of the field at the start of the second period of extra time.

The word on the ground suggested that this year’s bunch of Galway U-21s were nothing exceptional and while we have seen much classier teams emerging from the county at this level down through the years, Tony Ward’s charges certainly lacked nothing in terms of fortitude against a Dublin outfit which was too clumsy for its own good and registered some shocking wides.

Mind you, Galway were very wayward at times as well in a fluctuating contest which saw energetic midfielder Daniel Nevin pick off three invaluable first-half points and goalkeeper Cathal Tuohy making a fine stop from AJ Murphy in the 27th minute. When they trailed by only 0-10 to 0-7 at the break having faced the strong wind, you felt the boys in maroon had most of the hard work done.

That view was strengthened in the third quarter when they outscored the Dubs by 0-6 to 0-1 to hit the front for the first time. Darragh Dolan, last year’s minor Thomas Monaghan and Conor Whelan, who had a glorious first-half goal chance brilliantly deflected onto the crossbar by opposition keeper Jonathan Treacy, were lending the superb Molloy scoring assistance and Galway appeared to have taken a grip of the game.

To Dublin’s credit, they rallied with full back James Madden getting one of their points in a fraught finish for both teams. At the other end, Whelan, Molloy and the lively Monaghan all raised white flags down the home stretch only for Cian MacGabhann to force extra time. It was anybody’s game again but when Galway only retired on level terms (0-18 each) after the first period of ten minutes when backed by the elements, they were under serious pressure.

Read John McIntyre’s column in full in this week’s Connacht Tribune.