Sports
No contest on the cards as Galway start title defence
By David Connors
THE Galway minor hurlers begin their defence of their All-Ireland title on Saturday against Antrim in Breffni Park, Cavan (3pm).
Given that Galway still hasn’t been integrated into the Leinster at underage grades, it sees this young Tribesmen come into the fray completely untested in any form of competitive fixture.
Galway minor manager Jeffrey Lynskey is clearly frustrated with the lack of cutthroat championship fixtures because it leaves no room for error. One defeat and Galway’s season is over which leaves them with no safety net for a side brimming with talent.
“Look it, it’s difficult for us with most teams playing three, four, if not five competitive games. We are coming in completely cold and if we are off on the day we will be found out. It’s important for us to be focused and ready for Antrim.”
While many might argue it allows Galway an easier passage to a potential All-Ireland final, one has to question the potential drawbacks in terms of development for these young players. For players of a young age, nothing is better in improving than actual competitive fixtures and no amount of training or challenge matches can replicate it.
Development is something which is clearly important to Lynskey. Speaking during the week, the Liam Mellows clubman was quick to highlight the importance of player development.
“Our process is the development side of it. We are looking for the lads to get the best out of themselves. So for us to get the best out of ourselves we need the right environment. At minor it’s all about development.”
In sport actions speak louder than words and it’s clear Lynskey is willing to back up his statements. He has his sights on a more long-term plan since he took over the side last year. For example, nine of last year’s team that finished the All-Ireland Final are available for selection this year.
In the defence Jack Fitzpatrick (Killimordaly) is the captain for the year and expected to take up the full-back role. Cianan Fahy (Ardrahan) and last year’s centre-half back Ian O’ Brien (Clarinbridge) are two other survivors from last year. Jack Coyne (Castlegar) is the vice-captain and is likely to feature in the middle of the field again.
The attack should consist of Clarinbridge sharpshooter Evan Niland alongside his clubmate Cian Salmon who scored the crucial injury-time goal in the All-Ireland semi-final victory against Kilkenny. They are very most likely to be ably assisted by Ardrahan’s Liam Forde, Michael Lynch (Kilnadeema-Leitrim) and Kevin Cooney (Sarsfields).
Lynskey added his biggest challenge is integrating this experience with the new batch of players coming through. “We have a good blend of the experience then from those lads with the 17 year olds and we will be trying to pick the best possible team on the day from that bunch of players.”
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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GALWAY United need to guard against any kind of complacency when they make the short hop down the M18 this Friday to take on Treaty United at the Markets Field (7.45pm).
The game is a meeting of the two form teams in the division, and as in previous meetings between the sides, will have an additional edge given the number of former United players in the home side’s ranks, and the pair of Limerick lads playing for United.
There might have been just the eight meetings between the sides since Treaty became the latest iteration to represent Limerick in the League of Ireland in 2021, and while United have yet to lose to the men in the candy-cane strips, there has never been more than a goal in four of their eight wins.
The most recent of those was back in February, when Rob Slevin scored the only goal of the game in Eamonn Deacy Park after a tough battle against a side who made a slow start to the season, before finally finding their groove in the past month.
Having taken just three points from their first six games before finally getting a win against Longford Town, they reverted to type with just one point from their next three games, but are now on a run of four wins on the spin, scoring 12 goals and conceding just one.
Their most recent win was a 3-0 victory away to Longford Town last Saturday, and they could have won by double that against the only side to have beaten United this season. That in itself is a warning.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty
While the Salthill Devon men’s team might have lost their grip on the Connacht Junior Cup that they held for two seasons, the club’s women’s side have picked up the mantle and on Sunday last in Headford were crowned provincial champions with a 4-3 win over Manulla.
Following midweek wins for Maree/Oranmore and Knocknacarra, the stage is now almost set for the semi-finals of the Michael Byrne Cup with Salthill Devon meeting St Bernard’s on Sunday in an outstanding quarter-final, with the winners advancing to a semi-final against Maree/Oranmore, while Colga will face Knocknacarra in the other last four contest.
Just one league issue remains to be decided, with the Championship runners-up position up for grabs, as Dynamo Blues have to win their two remaining games in order to overtake Colemanstown United who have finished their programme.
WOMEN’S CONNACHT CUP FINAL
Salthill Devon 4
Manulla 3
Ellerose O’Flaherty scored twice as Salthill Devon were crowned provincial champions with a win over a Mayo side who were losing in the final for the second year in succession.
Backboned by a number of players who previously had League of Ireland experience with Galway WFC, Devon suffered an early set back when Jess Nolan put Manulla ahead, before O’Flaherty levelled matters with a cracking finish on 20 minutes, which was quickly followed by a long-range free-kick from Aoife Walsh.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
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