Galway U21s face huge task against star-studded Waterford

THE Galway U-21 management and players continue to hold out hope that injured Kinvara sharpshooter Conor Whelan will play some part in Saturday’s All-Ireland final against Waterford at Semple Stadium, Thurles (5pm).

Whelan was forced off with a shoulder injury in the Tribesmen 0-21 to 0-19 victory over Dublin in the semi-final and, according to manager Tony Ward, the damage has been slow to respond to treatment.

“He is a big doubt all the time, to be honest about it,” outlined Ward. “There is no point saying otherwise. It is ligament damage, the AC joint, and it is slow (to heal).”

In addition to Whelan, who is one of just three players to feature on the Galway senior panel this year, captain Brian Molloy (Kilnadeema/Leitrim), Declan Cronin (Cappataggle) and Fintan Burke (St. Thomas’) are all nursing knocks they picked up with their clubs in the preliminary SHC quarter-finals.

Gort’s Jack Grealish, who made an impact when introduced against Dublin, is also receiving treatment but it is expected the majority of these additional concerns – if not all – should pass fit to play.

At any rate, the Galway team that finished extra-time against Dublin was a far cry from that which commenced the contest. Following on from this, the starting fifteen for the final should mark another stage in the team’s evolution, provided the Galway management is brave in its selection.

There is no reason to suggest otherwise given Ward and his backroom staff were willing to trust no less than five of last year’s minor team – Sean Loftus, Fintan Burke, Thomas Monaghan and substitutes Jack Grealish and Brian Concannon – with game-time against Dublin. It underlined they have an open mind.

This could pave the way for the likes of Sean Linnane, Adrian Morrissey, Conneely and Grealish to see action while dual player Eamon Brannigan, with more hurling under his belt, also has a great deal to offer.

That said, the Waterford team Galway face is arguably one of the better U-21 teams in the competition in some time or, at the very least, on a par with the Clare sides that won the All-Ireland title in 2013 and 2014.

Nine of the Waterford players saw action with their senior team in either the National League or championship with centre-half back Austin Gleeson one of the outstanding players of the senior championship.

Full coverage in this week’s Tribune