Galway U20s striving to get the better of Kilkenny again

By Enna O’Reilly

THE Galway under 20 hurlers are set to take on Kilkenny at O’Connor Park, Tullamore, this Bank Holiday Monday (4pm) in the semi-final of the Leinster championship.

Galway have a clean bill of health going into their clash with the Cats, with Brian Hanley in his first year as under 20 team manager. Having guided the Galway minors to All-Ireland honours in 2019 and 2020, Hanley is very familiar with the group at his disposal and feels that there is huge quality within the panel.

‘‘We’ve been training since last November for this and the lads are raring to go. We have a fantastic group of lads, there is huge talent in the panel. Their attitude and work rate in training has been excellent. We had success with this group at minor level, but this [under 20] is the next step for them now. It’s all about their development and hopefully their progression to senior in the next few years.’’

Galway will have to hit the ground running in this year’s championship, with the traditional kingpins of Leinster hurling awaiting them in the first round. However, the Tribesmen can certainly take encouragement from their recent record against Kilkenny in this competition. Galway overcame the Cats in last year’s Leinster semi-final, on a 1-18 to 1-15 scoreline, while they also recorded a 0-19 to 1-11 win over the Noresiders in the 2019 championship.

Kilkenny came through their quarter final outing on April 20 with a comfortable win over Offaly, on a 3-21 to 1-16 scoreline. An early goal from Harry Shine sent the Cats on their way, while Billy Drennan and Jamie Doyle also raised green flags.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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