Bord Gáis Energy Hurling All-Ireland U21 final Preview

In a year when Kilkenny have dominated the hurling headlines, an All-Ireland final without the presence of the Cats lends a novelty value to today’s clash of Galway and Tipperary. It will be the fourth occasion that the paths of the Corrib and Premier sides have crossed in the decider, with the Westerners enjoying a 2-1 lead in the finals played to date.

Bord Gais Energy GAA Hurling All Ireland U21 Championship Final
Semple Stadium, Thurles: Galway v Tipperary, 7.00pm

Although Tipperary had by far the easier semi-final outing, their path to the final has been the more arduous as they defeated Cork and reigning champions Clare to take provincial honours. Against the Leesiders, Tipp, with eight senior panelists among their rank, looked the part as they turned over leading by four points at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, but the concession of seven unanswered points in the final quarter left them trailing.

A goal from Séamus Hennessy sent the game into extra-time where the visitors won the first period by five points to one and they eventually edged it by two. Against the Banner at Thurles, the hosts made a dreadful start as the visitors hit an unanswered 1-3, but Tipp were level by the 20th minute and led by three at the change of ends.

Early in the second period the champions closed to within a point, but the challengers responded and were full value for their five-point winning margin. The less said about their semi-final stroll against Antrim the better! However, Galway’s penultimate clash was anything but a stroll as Dublin pushed them hard at Tullamore.

At the break there was just a point dividing the sides, but in the third quarter the Corribsiders hit 1-4 without reply and that was a burst that the Metropolitans had no answer to. Winning manager Anthony Cunningham said after that victory, “It is tough when you play a team that has won earlier-round matches beating Kilkenny and Wexford, but we are delighted with the win. We have a lot of brushing up to do, but we will try to kick on from this”.

And kick on Galway will probably have to if they are to secure their 10th title this evening. Tipperary’s incentive is that a win at Semple won see them pull level with Galway on nine titles, just two in arrears of the brand leaders Cork and Kilkenny.

Three years ago at minor level Tipperary beat Cork by six points in the final. The Rebels had earlier disposed of Galway’s challenge at the quarter-final stage by 17 points. That would suggest a comfortable win for the Premier county on home turf today and although they are favoured to win their first title for 15 years, there shouldn’t be more than a few points in it.