Sign of the times as eleven Galway hurlers line up in London Final

Date Published: 05-Oct-2011

It’s a sign of the times – and the tough economic conditions in the West of Ireland – that a very strong Galway contingent will be involved in this weekend’s London county senior hurling championship final between St. Gabriel’s and title favourites Robert Emmetts.

No fewer than nine Galway men are set to line out with Gabriel’s in the decider, namely former Galway All-Ireland winning U-21 goalkeeper Aidan Ryan (Craughwell), defenders Colm Burke (Kinvara), Frank Tierney (Kiltormer) and Brian Costello (Abbeyknockmoy), midfielder Enda Cooney (Carnmore) and forwards Tom Moroney (Tommy Larkins), Ger Wynne (Kinvara), Eoin McKeague (Portumna) and Ivan O’Connor (Rahoon/Newcastle).

There is also a strong Galway influence on the sideline, with the Gabriel’s management team comprising of Tommy Duane (Athenry), Mick Nevin (Eyrecourt), Michael Kenny (Kiltormer), Ambrose Gordon (Killimor) and Tom Conneely (Clifden).

As for Robert Emmetts, their title challenge will be spearheaded by Galway duo Niall Healy (Cappataggle) and Maurice Callanan (Ardrahan), the latter of whom scored 1-7 in Emmetts’ county semi-final victory over reigning champions, Kilburn Gaels.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.