Minor hurlers lay title on the line against Tipperary

REIGNING All-Ireland minor champions Galway face the ultimate test of their 2016 credentials when they go head-to-head with Munster holders – and last year’s All-Ireland finalists – Tipperary in an intriguing semi-final at Croke Park on Sunday (1:30pm).

Both counties have their survivors from the 2015 All-Ireland decider, although Galway would appear to be in a stronger position having 10 players from their 2015 match day squad compared to Tipperary’s six.

These include each team’s respective top scorers from that day, namely Evan Niland and Tipperary’s Lyndon Fairbrother while other notable players involved were Galway’s Jack Fitzpatrick, Ian O’Brien – returning from injury for this one – Jack Coyne and Cian Salmon and Tipp duo Brian McGrath and Cian Darcy.

No doubt though, it will be Niland who will be looked to this Sunday to lead a Galway attack that includes ‘old hands’ Salmon, Liam Forde, Kevin Cooney and Michael Lynch – who has also recuperated from an injury – and 2016 newcomer Jack Canning.

Indeed, Galway have a nice blend all over the field. Goalkeeper Jack Forde was understudy to Darragh Gilligan last year while Fitzpatrick, O’Brien, Patrick Foley and Ross Malone can also harness their 2015 experiences to good effect in this one.

That said, although the reigning champions have far more of their 2015 contingent to call on, Tipperary, on the other hand, are far more battle-hardened following a testing Munster championship campaign.

In all, the Premier County has played four provincial matches – against Waterford, Clare, Cork and Limerick – while Galway have had to build the foundations of their title challenge on a routine 2-22 to 0-8 All-Ireland quarter-final win over Antrim.

As always, the marked contrast in both teams’ preparations for this All-Ireland semi-final hardly seems fair, further underlined by the fact that Tipperary lost their opening contest to Waterford on a scoreline of 1-20 to 1-17.

Taking the lessons of that loss on board, the Tipperary management recalibrated their outfit for their subsequent victories over Clare (2-15 to 0-12) and Cork (0-23 to 1-15) in the Munster quarter-final and semi-final respectively.

Cork had led by six points – 1-12 to 0-9 – early in the second half but a scintillating revival from Liam Cahill’s charges saw them outscore the Leesiders by 14 points to three in the closing 27 minutes. Fairbrother accounted for 10 of his side’s total, eight from frees, while half-time substitute Dylan Walsh knocked over four points.

Full coverage in this week’s Connacht Tribune.