Final Four: Galway back on All-Ireland trail

Just two years after landing the Cadbury GAA Football All-Ireland U21 Championship, Galway are once again back on the hunt for top honours.

The Connacht champions face Kildare in the All-Ireland semi-final this Saturday in O'Connor Park, Tullamore. Throw-in for the game is at 2pm, with the second semi-final between Cavan and Cork starting at 3.45pm. Both games are live on TG4.

Path to the Semi-Final?

Connacht ChampionshipQuarter-Final: Galway 1-20 Sligo 0-7Semi-Final: Galway 0-9 Mayo 0-7Final: Galway 1-17 Roscommon 2-11 (AET)

Galway went through the toughest route possible to win their 18th Connacht U21 Championship title. They defeated Sligo, Mayo and finally Roscommon in the final to progress to Saturday's All-Ireland semi-final.

Their quarter-final victory over Sligo was by far their most comprehensive win of the campaign. They had 16 points to spare against the Yeats County at Tuam Stadium, with centre-half-forward Seán Moran netting their goal. Also to the fore that day were corner forwards Gary Kelly and Shane Walsh, who hit 0-5 apiece.

Galway faced a very strong Mayo side in the semi-final, which included senior players such as Cillian O'Connor and Conor O'Shea. Poor weather conditions affected the game in Tuam, but Galway showed their mettle to eke out a 0-9 to 0-7 victory. Shane Walsh was the inspiration behind the win for Galway, as he kicked 0-6, four of which came from play. The game was tight all the way through, but Walsh showed superb nerve and maturity in the closing minutes, kicking the final two points for Galway to see them over the line.

In the Connacht final, Galway needed extra-time to see off the reigning provincial champions, and last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists, Roscommon. It finished 2-8 to 1-11 after normal time, and both sides were down to 14 players following the sendings off of Eoin Walsh and Donie Smith. Walsh was once again central for Galway on the day, but the main man ultimately was corner-forward Ian Burke, who was Man of the Match after a stirring attacking display which saw him kick seven points from play.

Strengths?

Galway's main threats are in their forwards. Shane Walsh has shown himself to be an attacker par excellence in the Connacht U21 Football Championship, and he has been ably assisted in attack by Gary Kelly, and most spectacularly by Ian Burke in the Connacht final. Galway have always had a reputation for producing nimble, technical forwards and this team appears to be no different. The 2011 crop produced the likes of Mark Hehir and Danny Cummins, and the early signs are that the class of 2013 could produce similar prototypes.

Galway don't have a whole lot of experience at this level in their team, and they are practically unrecognisable from the group which won the All-Ireland in 2011. The vast bulk of their players have come onto the U21 scene either last season or this season, but whether or not that is a help or a hindrance remains to be seen.

In the Connacht final, they showed impressive resilience to see off an experienced Roscommon side in extra-time. Despite looking for long stages in the extra period as though they would fall to Roscommon, Galway finally took control of the final in the closing minutes and swept to the win in the end. They will surely draw on that experience should Saturday's game with Kildare go down to the wire.

One massive plus for Galway is the return to fitness of senior star Thomas Flynn. Flynn, one of the only survivors from the 2011 team along with fellow midfielder Fiontán Ó Curraoin, has already established himself as a Galway senior, but has been out for the last nine months with a serious knee injury. He made his return to competitive action with a substitute appearance in the Connacht final, and looks set to start on Saturday.

Players to Watch?

As mentioned above, Shane Walsh is probably Galway's most potent threat. The Kilkerrin-Clonberne clubman is the pick of a bunch of exciting young talent that Alan Mulholland has brought into the senior set-up this year, and his reputation has been built as much on his exploits with St. Jarlath's College in Tuam as it has been with the various Galway underage teams he has been involved with.

Ian Burke and Seán Moran have also been key figures for Galway up front, and they are both capable of providing good support to Walsh. Perhaps Galway's most dominant area is in midfield, however.

Fiontán Ó Curraoin started the All-Ireland U21 final two years ago against Cavan, as did his potential midfield partner on Saturday, Thomas Flynn. Ó Curraoin featured prominently for the Galway seniors during the Allianz Football League this season and was a central presence for DCU in the Sigerson Cup, while Flynn has long been touted as one of Galway football's brightest prospects. Injured for the last nine months, his return at the semi-final stage could be exactly what the young Tribesmen need to take them into the All-Ireland final.

On the Sideline?

Galway are managed by Tuam Stars clubman Alan Flynn. He previously managed the famous Tuam Stars team, and took them to their first Galway senior final since 1995 in 2011, where they were beaten by Corofin. Flynn was involved in the backroom team when Galway won the U21 title in 2011, and when Alan Mulholland took over the Galway seniors for the start of the 2012 season, Flynn joined him as a selector.

He is now the manager of the Galway U21s in his own right, with former Galway star Declan Meehan on board as a selector, and senior manager Alan Mulholland and Donal Ó Fatharta part of the support team.

Track record?

Galway have an impressive recent record at U21 All-Ireland level. They have won the All-Ireland title on four occasions, with three of them coming in the last decade - 2002, 2005 and 2011. Their other All-Ireland football success at U21 level came way back in 1972, in the early years of the competition.