U-21 hurlers all out to atone for final humiliation

STEPHEN GLENNON

GALWAY’S U-21 hurlers return to the scene of the crime when they face Munster champions Limerick at Semple Stadium, Thurles on Saturday (6pm).

It’s hard to believe that it is almost a year since Galway were torn asunder by a prolific Tipperary outfit in the 2010 All-Ireland U-21 decider at the same venue . . . the young Tribesmen losing that battle to the Premier County on Tipp’s home ground by 5-22 to 0-12.

Manager Anthony Cunningham, more than likely, endured his fair share of nightmares in the aftermath of that harrowing experience and he admits that the road to redemption has been a long one. The debate on whether that final should have been played in Thurles – given Tipp’s involvement – may have long dissipated, but the memories, no doubt, have been harder to suppress.

“We are raring to go, big time,” says Cunningham. “We have been waiting for this game for a long time, particularly after what happened in the final last year. It was great to get to that final and when you see where Tipperary have gone since! I mean their current senior side is backboned by a lot of those U-21 players. That said, we have a few scores to settle.”

Certainly, Galway should not be short of motivation, with 10 of last year’s starting XV – and another half dozen of the panel – involved again. Those include defenders Declan Connolly (Killimordaly), Paul Gordon (Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry), Gerard O’Halloran (Craughwell) and Niall Donoghue (Kilbeacanty), the versatile trio of David Burke (St. Thomas’), Johnny Coen (Loughrea) and captain Barry Daly (Clarinbridge) and forwards James Regan (St. Thomas’), Niall Quinn (Sarsfields) and Richie Cummins (Gort).

“We have a serious amount of the players from last year and, to be fair, they really have got on with it this year. The lads have been working extremely hard,” praises Cunningham. “There has been some excellent coaching done and Mattie Kenny and Tom Helebert have been putting in some work in the coaching and development of these guys.”

That said, it is still an unenviable task for Cunningham, Kenny and Helebert to get their charges up to speed against a Limerick side that was so impressive in their run to the Munster title. Against Clare in the provincial semi-final, the Shannonsiders swept to a 2-19 to 1-15 victory – Kevin Downes and Michael Ryan scoring the Limerick goals – before playing out a humdinger of a final against Cork a week later. 

Limerick won that titanic clash 4-20 to 1-27, after extra-time, with Graeme Mulcahy (2), Declan Hannon and Seanie O’Brien scoring the goals and Shane Dowling tallying 0-7, six from frees. Indeed, it is a very potent Limerick attack, underlined by the fact that Hannon, Mulcahy and Downes also spearheaded the endeavours of the county’s senior side earlier this year.

“We have seen quite a bit of them,” says Cunningham. “They have had two very tough championship games against Clare and Cork and anyone who saw their game [against Cork] recently was very impressed with them. In fact, for many, it was one of the games of the year. So, it will be some test for us, but, at the same time, we have to concentrate on our game and on our own set-up.”

As always with Galway teams, there are the additional worries. One, is that the Tribesmen will not reach the pitch of the game quickly enough; another, is that they will not be sufficiently battle hardened to see out the contest.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.