U20s fall to a heavy defeat in one-sided showdown

Cork 4-19

Galway 2-14

WHAT unfolded in Thurles on Wednesday evening only confirms the suspicion that Galway is being left behind by the evolution of modern-day hurling.

With the county’s seniors wiped out by the pace and energy of Waterford at the same venue in late July, it was the turn of the Galway U20s to be blitzed by far more athletic and powerful opponents in this one-sided All-Ireland final.

Minor champions three year ago when Cork didn’t even reach the Munster final, high hopes had accompanied this Galway team into the 2021 U20 title race, but they had no answers to the Rebels at Semple Stadium.

To be honest, the warning signs were there that the latest crop of All-Ireland winning Galway minors to attempt to follow up at U20 level would not be up to the task either.

Galway’s laboured Leinster Final win over a limited Dublin outfit was miles behind the impressive form shown by Cork on their way to provincial glory. And for the most part, there was a frightening gulf between the teams.

On the balance of play, Jeffrey Lynskey’s charges were lucky to be only beaten by 11 points and bar an unexpected scoring surge at the start of the second-half, Galway were always chasing shadows.

When you consider that Cork were missing their two senior players in the squad – Shane Barrett and Alan Connolly – due to the ridiculous rule that individuals who play championship hurling at the top level are barred from U20 action – and they also had to field without injured full back Daire O’Leary, it underlines the emerging young talent at their disposal.

Against that background, Galway should be grateful that the Rebels weren’t at full strength, but it must be put on record that a Covid outbreak in the Tribesmen’s camp had seriously disrupted their preparations for the final.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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