Odds stacked against Galway U-21 footballers

GALWAY football is on a high following the senior squad’s National League title victory at Croke Park on Sunday, and the U21s will look to ride the crest of that wave as they embark on an All-Ireland semi-final at Cusack Park, Ennis on Easter Saturday (4.30pm).

Their opponents, Kerry, aren’t lacking in confidence either. The senior team’s triumph over Dublin at GAA HQ Sunday, as well as the U21s’ facile Munster final win over Cork, will only add to their innate winning mentality that footballers from the Kingdom already possess.

Kerry’s provincial success a fortnight ago ended an eight-year barren spell without a trophy at U21, and the traditional aristocrats of Gaelic football are unbackable favourites to advance to a final against either Dublin or Donegal.

But Galway are primed to give them a right good crack, having refocused after the high of beating Sligo, after extra-time, to claim the Connacht title in dramatic style at Markievicz Park two weeks ago.

“This particular group of players, when they were minor, would have always felt that they didn’t justify themselves. They were probably a bit unlucky and things like small breaks went against them. And I think they probably fancied themselves that time to be real contenders, so for that reason alone, they would feel that they belong, at least, to be very competitive in Connacht, which we proved to be,” said manager Gerry Fahy ahead of the semi-final showdown.

“It’s a huge task. There’s no doubt about that. At the same time, we are where we want to be. It’s a great opportunity for young Galway players in their development to get experience at this level of competition. Kerry are a good side but we always thought that last year’s Galway minor team were very close to them. If you’re looking at that, we’re not that far off the mark. On the day, we can give it a right shot.”

Galway U21 captain Michael Daly looked like he was made for Croke Park when he came off the bench and kicked two massive points for the seniors when the game was still in the melting pot against Kildare.

It was Daly’s first appearance at Croke Park, and not only did the Mountbellew/Moylough man enhance his reputation, he came through unscathed, meaning Fahy and his backroom team of Tim Rabbitte, Barry Cullinane, Tomas Mannion and Ciarán Ó Fatharta have no injury concerns and a full squad to pick from. The team will be announced after training on Thursday.

Meanwhile, there is a doubt over the availability of Kerry talisman and captain, corner-back Brian Sugrue, who has dislocated his kneecap.

The Tribesmen familiarised themselves with Cusack Park during a run-out on Monday evening, and they have already played Kerry in a challenge match last October.

That Limerick clash will have little bearing on Saturday’s result but it was perhaps an indication that the Kingdom had early-on identified Galway as the force to be reckoned with out west.

Full preview in this week’s Connacht Tribune.