Galway U20 hurling team named for All-Ireland decider against Clare
GAVIN KEARY has named an unchanged Galway U20 hurling team to face Clare in the All-Ireland Hurling final on Sunday. The action gets underway on Sunday at 2pm in FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles.
At a media event on Monday evening, Keary said it was unlikely Aaron Niland would feature in the All-Ireland U20 hurling final. The Clarinbridge clubman picked up an ankle injury against Dublin in round four of the Leinster SHC which has kept him out of action over the last two weeks. However, the Tribesmen have been handed a signifcant boost with Niland being named on the bench.
Senior panelist Jason Rabbitte has also been named on Galway’s bench for Sunday’s clash with Clare. Luke Kennedy and Darragh Counihan who picked up injuries during the first half of Galway’s win over Kilkenny in the Leinster final have been deemed fit enough to start.
Cappataggle’s Donnacha Campbell will be hoping to guide the men in maroon and white to All-Ireland success at this level for the first time since 2011. Clare possess plenty of quality with players like James Hegarty, Fred Hegarty, Michael Collins and Thomas O’Connor in their ranks.
Keary was previously involved with Clare senior hurling team under Gerry O’Connor and Donal Moloney. Clare native Kieran Corcoran is part of the Galway U-20 hurling backroom team and his insight could prove crucial this weekend.
Galway and Clare met in the All-Ireland minor hurling final three years ago when the Banner county defeated their neighbours by five points. Dublin native Thomas Gleeson will referee Sunday’s All-Ireland U20 Hurling final.
GALWAY: C Callanan, T Blake, M Fallon, E O’Reilly, J Donnellan, D Campbell, G Maher; M Burke, C Killeen; L Kennedy, D Counihan, J Shaughnessy; V Morgan, B Callanan, C Leen.
SUBS: A Canning, D Quirke, G King, C Maloney, H Holmes, S Moran, J Rabbitte, R Cahalan, A Niland and D Burke.