Galway minors take on Donegal in All-Ireland semi-final

For the first time in five years a Galway minor side will compete in an All-Ireland football semi-final when they take on Donegal this Sunday at Croke Park (1.30pm).
They were defeated on that day by a Dublin side that would be beaten a Tipperary side containing a certain Maurice Quinlivan who caused immense damage to the Galway senior side in this year’s quarter final. That young Tipperary side sowed the roots for the tremendously successful season their county has been having at senior level this year.
Galway themselves actually have to go all the way back to their All-Ireland minor final win in 2007 under Alan Mullholland as the last time a football side from the county recorded a victory in Croke Park.
Current Galway minor manager Stephen Joyce hopes playing in Croke Park will suit his side’s attacking mentality and style but he expects a stern test from the Ulstermen nonetheless.
“We like to move the ball quickly and play fast open football. Hopefully with the huge space up there we will be able to use it well and we will take to it and it doesn’t take too long to settle into the surroundings. We’re hoping we can get a performance and if we do we’ll be there or thereabouts.”
Joyce’s side come into game on the back of having retained a Connacht title for the first time in over a decade defeating Mayo in the final. They followed this up by disposing of a plucky Laois side in the recent quarter final on a scoreline of 3-10 to 0-12.
He does admit there is plenty scope for an improvement in performance levels amongst his young chargers, “I think we were well beaten in the middle of the field against Laois. We didn’t win a lot of ball and we didn’t win a lot of breaking ball so that’s something we have been working on and hopefully we can do better against Donegal.”
Given that around the middle of the field appears to be one of Donegal’s strongest areas, Galway will certainly have to focus heavily on winning and maintaining possession in this area. Joyce will be looking for considerable improvement from his midfield duo of Barna’s Ross Murphy and his partner Seán Raftery from Glenamaddy.
Galway keeper Cormac Haslem was singled out for praise from Joyce following the victory over Laois having made a number of vital saves to ensure his side remained on course to victory. Along with full-back Seán Mulkerrin from the Aran Islands, they have formed a highly praised understanding and the two players will be critical in stopping a Donegal attack who registered a tally of 2-13 in their comprehensive victory over Cork in the quarter final.

Full preview in this week’s Connacht Tribune.