Bord Gáis Energy GAA Hurling U-21 previews
September 10, 2010Tipperary v Galway
Semple Stadium, 7pm
Recent off field controversy about the venue has put the main event in the shadow but as the day approaches all the focus has now been placed firmly on Semple Stadium and one of the most eagerly awaited clashes of this year's U-21 Championship.
Galway were an unknown entity up until the semi final but the manner in which they dispatched Dublin has left everybody in no doubt that Anthony Cunningham's team are a serious outfit. The same 15 will line out again and in captain and centre back David Burke they have a player of huge stature even at this stage and his ability to read the game and his dead ball accuracy will be a huge factor tomorrow.
Allied to this, Galway have forwards that can be ruthless when needs be, as Niall Quinn and Eoin Forde showed against the Dubs, but that also hunt in packs and have a huge work ethic.
This work ethic will be needed against a Tipperary team boasting eight members of the senior panel that carried Liam McCarthy with them to Thurles last Monday evening.
To date, Ken Hogan's team have been very impressive and have put Munster aristocrats Cork and Clare to the sword before showing no mercy to Antrim. While Padraic Maher and Noel McGrath are the shining lights, others like Brendan Maher, Patrick Maher and Michael Cahill have not been shy in putting themselves about.
Certainly the suspension of John Coughlan will upset them somewhat but playing Padraic Maher at 3 will hardly weaken an already stellar full back line.
The momentum, and the majority of the crowd, will be with Tipperary for this clash and confidence will be high after last weekend. That is not enough to win a game but a quick look at the Tipp line up gives plenty of other reasons for optimism, so a narrow Tipp win.
Tipperary: J Logue, K O'Gorman, Padraic Maher (capt.), M Cahill, J Barry, B Maher, C Hough, S Hennessy, N McGrath, S Carey, Patrick Maher, B O'Meara, M Heffernan, P Murphy, J O'Dwyer
Galway: C Finnegan, D Connolly, P Gordon, G O'Halloran, S Óg Linnane, D Burke (capt.), N Donoghue, J Coen, B Daly, J Regan, N Quinn, E Forde, R Cummins, G Burke, G Kelly
Bord Gáis Energy GAA Hurling U-21 All-Ireland B Final
Kerry v Meath
Semple Stadium, 5pm
Meath and Kerry go head to head in this year's Bord Gáis Energy GAA Hurling U-21 All-Ireland B Final in Semple Stadium. The game promises to be an entertaining curtain raiser for the U-21A final between Tipperary and Galway which throws in at 7.00pm.
Meath overcame Roscommon 3-17 to 1-9 to book their place in this year's final. Meath's Manager Kevin Dowd brother of All-Ireland winner Tommy will need fine performances from Barry Slevin, Daniel Carthy, Mark O'Sullivan and Neill Heffernan if Meath are to go on and take the spoils.
Kerry on the other hand impressively overcame Fermanagh in their semi final 3-25 to 1-9. John Myler,who managed the senior team to the Christie Ring final this year, will be calling upon some of the players involved in that campaign such as Ronan Kenny, Darragh O'Connell and Shane Nolan to lead from the front and guide the Kingdom to victory.
It promises to be a thrilling game as both teams have been in fine scoring form to date and could go either way. Too close to call. Tweet
