Bish boys on minor panel showing city hurling in positive light

THE quality of the talent coming through unlikely hurling outposts in the city and Connemara has been a source of delight for Galway minor hurling manager Mattie Murphy in the build-up to his tenth All-Ireland final at the grade at Croke Park on Sunday.

He was particularly delighted to note that four players from a city school, St Joseph’s College (‘The Bish’), were on the field of play at the end of the thrilling semi-final victory over Limerick last month, which secured the young Tribesmen’s fourth appearance in the final in six years.

Corner back Michael Conneely and Adrian Morrissey (both Liam Mellows) have started the two championship games against Laois and Limerick, while Jack Hastings (also Mellows) and Eamonn Branningan (Rahoon-Newcastle) turned in impressive performances after being sprung from the bench in the semi-final.

Connemara is represented by corner back Maidhc O Conghaile, who played in goals for the minor side which was beaten by Tipperary in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final.

Murphy said the variety of clubs represented on the 2013 panel was a tribute to the good work going on at underage level all around the city and county.

“There are so many different clubs represented there, 17 or 18 in the 24,” said Murphy. “I think we probably started out saying that if we could put a good backline together we’d be in with a right shout, because we knew we had a few talented forwards.

“If we hadn’t brought on the fellas we brought on against Limerick, we wouldn’t be preparing for an All-Ireland final today. Number 24 is as important as number one and the lads down the line have kept everybody honest.”

He was particularly delighted by the good work going on at the city clubs, Mellows and Rahoon, plus the huge interest of the teachers at The Bish – a school which is far better known for sports such as rowing, rugby, and soccer.

“The one surprising thing about it is that a school that’s famous for rugby or rowing suddenly has four players on the Galway minors’ first 20. The four of them were on the field in the All-Ireland semi-final, four Bish lads, and we have the odd lad from west of the city as well,” he said.

“Mellows are making a huge effort, but there are a number of teachers in the Bish who are doing an awful lot of work and you’d have to give them credit as well. You have Shane Cusack, from Loughrea originally, he’s doing a lot of work.”

Murphy said he always expected the Athenry, Gort, or Loughrea schools to deliver quality players to the minor panel, but said it was “quite incredible” to see four players from a city school on the field when the referee blew the final whistle in the semi-final win over Limerick last month.

“There is still intense competition for places,” he said. I’d say any of the lads who came on the last day is still in with a shout of getting a start and the lads on the bench will have a big part to play.”