Galway Under 21 and senior hurler Thomas Monaghan.
By Cian O'Connell
It is a busy time of the year, but Thomas Monaghan is delighted that important matches are arriving thick and fast.
The exciting Galway forward is a key figure for Tony Ward's Under 21 team, who face Munster champions Limerick in an interesting All Ireland Semi-Final at Semple Stadium on Saturday evening.
Monaghan has also featured in the Galway senior jersey this year, scoring a point in the Leinster SHC Final win over Wexford last month.
Having flared to prominence with the Galway minors in 2015, Monaghan also won an Independent.ie Fitzgibbon Cup with Mary Immaculate in February.
The Craughwell youngster has enjoyed being involved with the different maroon and white set-ups. "Predominantly we've been with the seniors and we've been with the Under 21s a couple of times as it's come up towards the Championship.
"Frannie Forde our senior trainer is training the Under 21s as well so he has a good connection between the two squads and he manages our schedules fairly well."
Training with an accomplished crop of Galway hurlers is a challenge Monaghan has embraced. "It has been fantastic," Monaghan acknowledges. "It's what you dream about when you're younger. You go to these matches and you support the players and look up to them so much.
"When you get a chance to actually train alongside them it's brilliant. At the same time you have to try to make your own mark as well in it. You get advice along the way off the different players which you take on board and it's brilliant experience."
Willie Devereux and Thomas Monaghan in action during the 2017 Leinster SHC Final at Croke Park.
Conor Whelan, Sean Loftus, Jack Grealish, and Monaghan are the four senior panelists currently featuring for the Galway Under 21s.
"It's been enjoyable," Monaghan says. "Trying to stay working hard and concentrating on this Saturday and what's to come in the next few weeks. Keeping the head and working."
Like every year at this grade an element of uncertainty surrounds Galway, who face a demanding assignment against a star studded Limerick.
"It will be a tough game," Monaghan admits. "You've seen how many of their players were playing in in the senior championship for them this year, there's been quite a few. "They've got good exposure at senior level and playing in a do-or-die qualifer below in Nowlan Park against Kilkenny lads that have won seven plus All-Irelands.
"That obviously will bring on a player and the current crop of Limerick players are a very skilful bunch and their attitudes are right as well. They're a very strong team. We haven't played any competitive game and that can be a disadvantage.
"It would be great if we could get more competitive games for players at minor and Under 21 level in Galway. You get more experience of a big match day in the Championship. More games would benefit both minor and Under 21 squads."
Monaghan is completely aware of the talent Limerick possess. "I'd know Cian (Lynch) well from college, Aaron Gillane and Thomas Grimes as well," Monaghan states.
"I'd know a good few of them and I've hurled with them as well. Both squads would know a lot about each other in terms of playing each other at minor in 2014, and we played them in minor in 2015 as well. Both squads will be familiar with squad."
