Quest For Third Title in Four Years

Date Published: 21-Aug-2008

THE QUEST to deliver a third All-Ireland U-21 title in four years to Galway begins at Semple Stadium, Thurles, on Saturday (2.30p.m.) when the holders take on Leinster champions Kilkenny in what has the makings of a pulsating semi-final.

Vincent Mullins’ side contains no less than eight of the players who started last September’s final against Dublin at Croke Park and, to underline the county’s current riches at underage levels, is backboned by 12 of the side who accounted for Limerick, narrowly, in the All-Ireland minor final back in 2005.

Underage hurling seems to be thriving in the county at present, but opponents don’t come any tougher than Kilkenny, who have already registered heavy victories over Dublin (1-20 to 1-11) and Offaly (2-21 to 2-9) in Leinster.

Two years ago, they hammered Galway at this stage – only the introduction of a then 17-year old Joe Canning prevented an absolute whitewash – and the Tribesmen will look to the Portumna attacking ace for scoring options again on Saturday.

Galway seemed to be completely off the pace in that 2006 semi-final, until Canning came in to hit 2-4 and the danger for the Tribesmen – as ever – is that they will be lacking in match practice against a team who have come through the full rigours of a provincial campaign.

They were almost caught out by…