Patrick Curran and Brian Molloy pictured with the James Nowlan Cup.
Saturday September 10
Bord Gais Energy All Ireland Under 21 Final
Waterford v Galway, Semple Stadium, 5pm
By Cian O'Connell
An immensely talented Waterford group are now used to dealing with great expectations. Within minutes of their semi-final win over Antrim Austin Gleeson stood patiently and smiled as several of the Saffrons panel honourably asked for photographs.
It was a week on from the crushing All Ireland SHC loss to Kilkenny, but Gleeson was still able to recall the minor adventure of 2013. “We set our stall out three years ago that we had a good team,” Gleeson stated. “It was the same at the start of this year."
Only a national title would be deemed a success, anything else classed in the failure category. So that is why the wins over Clare and Tipperary in Munster were greeted with such glee.
Waterford coped with the heavy burden of favouritism even when Clare were threatening only three days after the Deise seniors had been annihilated in the provincial decider. That Walsh Park success had a restorative effect for Waterford, who have subsequently outfoxed Tipperary and Antrim.
Galway, without a win at this level since 2011, were content to finish strongly at the Semi-Final stage when beating Dublin.
It was a match in which captain Brian Molloy led by example mining 10 points including four in extra-time when Galway hurled well. Tony Ward, who coached the NUIG Fitzgibbon Cup team in the winter and spring, has assembled a hard working panel.
Tony Ward and Sean Power pictured at Semple Stadium on Wednesday.
There was enough grit in the performance against Dublin to suggest that Galway can cause some difficulties for a star studded Waterford outfit.
Conor Gleeson, Austin Gleeson, Patrick Curran, Stephen Bennett, Shane Bennett, and Tom Devine spearhead the Waterford challenge, while DJ Foran is also emerging as a key figure in this campaign.
Three years ago Waterford were too strong for Galway in the All Ireland Minor Final, claiming victory on a 1-21 to 0-16 scoreline with Sean Power also in charge.
Selector Paul Flynn was an influential youngster when Waterford last won the Under 21 Championship back in 1992 following a replay against Offaly.
Conor Whelan, Galway’s accomplished attacker, remains a serious injury doubt with a shoulder problem with Brian Molloy the chief scoring threat.
Cappataggle duo Darragh Dolan and Dan Nevin combined nicely at centrefield when Galway overcame Dublin. The pacy Eamonn Brannigan, who won a Connacht SFC medal in July, has the potential to make an impact as a substitute.
Eanna Burke, brother of senior captain David, is a skilful operator, while St Thomas’ club colleague Shane Cooney is a promising player too.
How a Galway defence, featuring nifty 2015 All Ireland minor winning star Sean Loftus, copes with a powerful and potent Waterford forward unit will be crucial on Saturday evening.
