Galway minors provide ray of hope in muted return

Emotions were mixed at the Galway hurling teams’ homecomings in Ballinasloe and Galway City on Monday.

The victorious minor hurlers received a heroes’ welcome from the thousands of Galway supporters who turned out at the Square in Ballinasloe and at Pearse Stadium.

And the valiant efforts of the Galway senior hurling team was also saluted by the huge crowds, who applauded the efforts of the Tribesmen despite suffering defeat to Kilkenny in the senior final.

Seán Walsh, Galway Bay FM’s hurling commentator, introduced both teams to the crowds, starting with Jeffrey Lynskey’s minors, and team captain Seán Loftus.

Lynskey of the Liam Mellows club received a warm welcome in Salthill in particular. He praised the efforts of his charges who were underdogs in every game they played this season, including against Tipperary in the final, which they won handsomely 4-13 to 1-16.

He noted, too, that not one of his charges was born when Galway last won the All-Ireland at senior (1988), something he hopes will be rectified sooner rather than later with the latest crop of minors breaking through.

While the minors celebrated, the homecoming felt a little bit awkward for the seniors, who had expected to return to Galway with Liam McCarthy.

Still, manager Anthony Cunningham thanked the fans for their loyal support and vowed Galway would return again. “Your presence here tonight and what it means to people, will drive these lads on to the Promised Land next year,” he said.

See full coverage in this week’s Connacht Tribune