Galway have the firepower

Date Published: 06-Sep-2007

FIRST off, a note of caution. If Galway were playing Kilkenny in Sunday’s All-Ireland U-21 hurling final at Croke Park (2 p.m.), there would hardly be any ‘loose talk’ about winning the ninth title at the grade around the county this week.

People would be fretting, in the wake of the humiliating defeat to Kilkenny in last year’s semi-final not to mention the extremely close shave against Cork last month, and taking absolutely nothing for granted against the Leinster champions.

But Offaly beat Kilkenny in Nowlan Park, Dublin then beat Offaly to win their first Leinster U-21 title in 35 years, and the men from the capital are in the decider on merit. Novel opponents, maybe, and a team who have no history of success at this level. But a team who have produced a series of dazzling displays this year, a potential ‘banana skin’ for Galway if ever there was one.

Dublin hurling is buzzing right now. They annexed both the minor and U-21 titles in Leinster this year and 11of this U-21 panel were also on the senior panel who shocked Galway in the National Hurling League back in March.

Youth is having its day in the capital, where the decision to restructure the whole system ten years ago really is beginning to pay off.

Of this U-21 team, centre back Tomas Brady and midfielders Joey Boland and John McCaffrey all started in that 1- 8 to 2-7 victory over Ger Loughnane’s demoralised Galway side.

Dublin have talented players who are capable of picking off long-range points and a mobile attack who will attempt to drag the Galway defenders all around the wide open spaces of Croke Park.

Their hauls in their games so far — 3-12 against Wexford, 2-18 against Offaly, and 3-18 against Derry in the semi-final — should indicate that it won’t be an easy afternoon’s work for the Galway defenders.

Dublin have two of the best midfielders in the country at this level in captain McCaffrey and Alan McCrabbe, who hit nine points against Offaly (including three from play).

Given Galway’s obvious…..