Murphy’s Minors Primed For Cats

Date Published: 04-Sep-2008

IF Galway hurling supporters have learned anything over the past decade and a half or so, it’s that underage medals provide absolutely no guarantee of senior success. Bitter experience has taught followers of the maroon and white that an unprecedented era of minor glories can be followed by yet more agonies for the county’s flagship team.

In the 20 years since Galway were last crowned senior champions, All-Ireland minor titles have been garnered in 1992, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2004, and 2005 – with near misses in finals in 1996 (going to a replay) and 2003 (a one point defeat to Kilkenny), and finals reached in 1993 and 2006.

Since Mattie Murphy delivered the first of his four minor titles to the county in ’92, Galway have been the major force at U-18 level but repeated attempts to convert minor and U-21 victories into joy at senior level have proved fruitless.

That triumphant ’92 team contained players such as Liam Donoghue, Nigel Shaughnessy, and Frannie Forde, men whose senior careers with the county have long since come to an end.

The ’94 team had Alan Kerins in goal, Greg Kennedy and Ollie Canning in defence, and the likes of Kevin Broderick and Fergal Healy up front. Of that gifted side, only Kerins, Healy and Canning are still battling for the county seniors, running out of time in their search for the Liam McCarthy Cup.

And yet the minors have given the county great joy down through the years. There really is something special about…