U-21 hurlers and minor footballers do the business in All-Ireland semi-finals
AFTER big-day disappointments for the Galway senior hurlers and footballers, the county’s minor hurlers and camogie team over recent weeks, there were better tidings for the wearers of the maroon last weekend
The pressure was on the Galway U-21 hurlers and minor footballers to stop the rot in their All-Ireland semi-finals and both teams came up trumps in championship collisions against Dublin and Donegal respectively.
The U-21 hurlers, under the management of former triumphant camogie boss Tony Ward, ended a sequence of semi-final defeats by overcoming Leinster champions Dublin after extra time at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The Galway minor footballers were not to be undone the following afternoon when Stephen Joyce’s charges overcame Donegal to secure the county a place in the All-Ireland final for the first time since 2007.
Goals early and late from Robert Finnerty and team captain Desmond Conneely were critical to Galway fending off the challenge of the gritty Ulster champions at Croke Park.
Galway created a host of other goal chances, but will still be content to have overcome a tricky hurdle. Joyce’s squad produced an admirable hard-working display and will face either Kerry or Kildare in the final.
In Thurles the previous evening, Kevin Molloy was the star of the show as his haul of ten points was critical to Galway’s 0-21 to 0-19 success over a wasteful Dublin outfit which recorded a total of 21 wides.
Galway showed plenty of courage against their battle-hardened opponents with important scoring contributions from Daniel Nevin, Thomas Monaghan, Eanna Burke and Conor Whelan as well.
Unfortunately, Whelan suffered a dislocated shoulder which forced his departure and the Kinvara clubmen now faces a desperate race against time to be fit for next month’s All-Ireland final against a hotly-fancied Waterford side.
Meanwhile, club senior championship action in both codes resumes this weekend. There are four preliminary quarter-finals down for decision in the hurling title race with top billing arguably going to the South Galway clash of Beagh, who will be badly hit by the absence of the injured Adrian Tuohy, and St Thomas’ at Kenny Park on Sunday (12 noon).
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.