Untested Galway U21s face daunting task against Limerick

GALWAY’S U-21 hurlers will be hoping they can replicate what the county minors have already achieved this year and that is to come in cold into a championship and claim a knockout victory against opposition that have the benefit of a provincial campaign under their belt.
This Saturday, Tony Ward’s U-21 charges face Munster champions Limerick at Semple Stadium, Thurles (6pm). Galway, as has been the case since time immortal, enter the last four without having hit a ball in anger while Limerick, for their part, have negotiated tests against Tipperary, Clare and Cork.
It means the Tribesmen have been, once again, left with little or no margin for error. However, rather than focus on the drawbacks of the current U-21 championship, Ward and company can take heart that the minors have already climbed that hurdle this year – and are now in an All-Ireland final.
“We have a good bit of work done,” begins Galway boss Ward. “They (Limerick) have three hard games under their belt – they are supposed to be the team of the U-21 championship this year – where we have had challenges against Kilkenny and Cork. They were good challenges but they are still only that – challenges.
“Look, we are going there with the intention of winning but we are under no illusions. We are going to be up against it.”
No doubt, the dearth of competitive games heading into this fixture is not ideal but, by the same token, you only have to look at the talented pool of individuals Galway boast of at U-21 level. This includes those players who secured the All-Ireland minor title in 2015.
One of those, Craughwell’s Darragh Gilligan is the front-runner to line out in goal while the 2015 minor full-back line of Ciaran Connor (Kilnadeema/Leitrim), Jack Fitzpatrick (Killimordaly) and Shane Bannon (Clarinbridge) are all viable options to reprise their previous roles.
That said, Cappataggle defender Declan Cronin will more than likely nail down one of those positions. Loughrea’s Conor Jennings may also have done so but his preparation over the Summer has been hampered through injury.
Jack Grealish (Gort), Joseph Mooney (Loughrea) and Sean Loftus (Turloughmore) would be one half-back line combination, although St. Thomas’ Fintan Burke, who lined out at No. 5 for the U-21s in last year’s campaign, will also be in contention.
Midfield has no shortage of possibilities with Grealish, Dan Nevin (Cappataggle), Kevin McHugo (Tommy Larkins) and Jack Coyne (Castlegar) all capable of playing and excelling in this sector.
Kinvara’s Conor Whelan, fresh from his recent heroics with the Galway seniors, is expected to lead the attack from the full-forward position with fellow senior panellist, Thomas Monaghan (Craughwell) to also feature in one of the six offensive berths.
The remaining places could be filled by a plethora of players, including Brian Concannon (Killimordaly), Sean Linnane (Turloughmore), Cianan Fahy (Ardrahan), Evan Niland (Clarinbridge) and Cian Burke (Athenry).

Full preview in this week’s Connacht Tribune