Galway U-21 hurlers wiped out by Waterford

Galway   0-14

In the wake of this 16-point All-Ireland U-21 hurling final defeat to Waterford, there has been some loose talk going regarding the plight of Galway hurling and, indeed, the management’s stewardship of this contest. It is the same idle drivel that too many come out with far too often.

You’ll find that the majority making the sweeping ‘infallible’ statements did not even undertake the journey to Thurles on Saturday to support their county, instead leaving it to the same hard core group of dedicated supporters who follow the Tribesmen at every level through thick and thin.

Of the 14,410 people to attend this game, about one-tenth were from Galway. If that is the value the vast majority of the hurling fraternity put on an All-Ireland hurling final, then no wonder the county is waiting so long for senior honours. Where was the drive and ambition last Saturday? Or does it begin and end with the senior team?

Secondly, this loss against a star-studded Waterford outfit is not representative of where Galway hurling is at – it is in a far healthier state than the scoreline suggests – but it does flag a few issues that arguably do need addressing. Those issues have nothing to do with Tony Ward or his backroom team.

The only crime the Galway management was guilty of, perhaps, was not setting out their stall defensively in the opening quarter but, then again, Waterford didn’t give them much time to implement this game-plan as the Déise hit their first of five goals within 41 seconds through DJ Foran.

After 15 minutes, it was 3-5 to 0-3 after Patrick Curran – a super finish – and Stephen Bennett – following an unreal handpass from Curran – also found the net in what was a devastating opening spell from the victors. Sometimes, there are no answers.

In truth, it wasn’t so much that Waterford were better stickmen but that their conditioning was far superior to Galway’s. As one colleague at the game remarked, what have those Galway players who played this same team three years ago at minor been doing in the interim? It was men against boys.

Granted, approximately two-thirds of this Galway squad will be underage again next year but that should not deflect that the players on the age were, for the most part, physically not up to it. The conditioning they have done did allow them to take the hits but not impose themselves on the game.

What Galway should consider is appointing a dedicated Director of Hurling – someone who will oversee not only this facet of the Galway inter-county players’ development but monitor players’ development up through the grades.

At the moment, great work is being done from grade to grade – the pathway is there – but a designated person needs to take the personal development of these players in hand. This person must be someone with huge passion, who is enthusiastic, organised and has that personal touch with players.

Full coverage in this week's Connacht Tribune