McGeeney and Kildare will be under much more pressure than Galway

By JIM CARNEY TAKING IT one day at a time, Galway U-21 footballers enter new territory on Saturday afternoon when they clash with Kildare in the first of the Cadbury-sponsored All-Ireland U-21 football semi-finals on a double-bill at Oâ€â„¢Connor Park, Tullamore. Itâ€â„¢s a 2.00 oâ€â„¢clock throw-in for Galway and Kildare (referee Barry Cassidy, Derry) followed at 3.45 by the second of the semi-finals, Cavan vs Cork (referee Liam Devenney, Mayo). These two games have considerable appeal and as Galway enjoyed huge support in their Connacht Championship campaign, knocking out Sligo, Mayo and Roscommon, there will be plenty of Maroon and White to be seen around Oâ€â„¢Connor Park on Saturday. Thatâ€â„¢s very important; this is a popular Galway team with the public, not only because theyâ€â„¢re young, they are seen as talented, highly skilful players with a great attitude: positive, confident, cool under pressure â€â€ as they proved in the second half of the Connacht final against Roscommon â€â€ and they play it hard, uncompromising, right to the final whistle. Thatâ€â„¢s how itâ€â„¢s been so far, to their great credit. Can they keep it up, outside their own province? Thereâ€â„¢s no way of knowing the answer to that question between now and Saturday afternoon.[private] Kildare are the U-21 Championship favourites, fielding seven players who have played or trained with the Kildare senior panel. This year, for the first time, Kieran McGeeney took charge of the U-21s along with his management of the senior panel. Last Sunday, the seniors lost to Tyrone in the National League semi-finals, 2-15 to 2-11, with McGeeney starting four U-21s: goalkeeper Mark Donnellan, left half-back Paul Cribbin, right half-forward Daniel Flynn and centre half-forward Niall Kelly. Paddy Brophy, Seán Hurley, Fionn Dowling and David Hyland all played in the National League this season and Pádraig Fogarty, a forward, played senior for Kildare last year. Daniel Flynn played at midfield for the 2012 Hogan Cup champions St Maryâ€â„¢s, Edenderry, Co. Offaly when they defeated St Jarlathâ€â„¢s, Tuam in the semi-finals in March of last year. This Saturday, heâ€â„¢ll be renewing rivalry with Liam Silke and Shane Walsh of that St Jarlathâ€â„¢s team. Shane, Galwayâ€â„¢s top scorer in U-21 football this year, made his Senior League debut recently against Wexford, while two others have senior experience: Fiontán Ó Curraoin, captain of the U-21s, and Thomas Flynn, just back from a long lay-off with injury. No doubt about it, Galway were excellent in the Connacht final; it doesnâ€â„¢t matter that Roscommon missed so many frees or that their best forward was sent off on a second yellow card â€â€ Galway had a job to do and they did it. Just as they held off Cillian Oâ€â„¢Connor and Mayo in the second half of the semi-final at Tuam Stadium. I have to be honest and say I thought at half-time that Mayo would go on to beat Galway in the second half but Galwayâ€â„¢s spirit was tremendous that evening and their fast, constructive football matched it. Taken over this year by the three senior management men, the U-21s were then given two extra mentors, Paul Clancy and Declan Meehan, both heroes of the John Oâ€â„¢Mahony era. Alan Mulholland handled all that really well, transferring his own responsibilities as U-21sâ€â„¢ bainisteoir to Alan Flynn who has gone from strength to strength in the role. We do not know at the time of writing (Tuesday morning) if powerfully built defender Daithí Burke will have recovered to start against Kildare, or where Thomas Flynn will play if he starts, but against Kildareâ€â„¢s big men and their physical power, Galway will have win the personal duels in the diamond area â€â€ Nos. 6, 8, 9 and 11 â€â€ if they are to make it to the All-Ireland final. Kieran McGeeney was in Hyde Park for the Connacht final and will have the Man of the Match in that game, Galway forward Ian Burke, man-marked from the first whistle the next day, but Ian is light and quick on his feet and close attention from the opposition will not worry him. It is to be hoped that Galway full-back James Shaughnessy will anchor the defence as securely as he did against Mayo, in particular, but this unit will be put under huge pressure. The reason why I focus on the diamond area and the defence is obvious: Galway may have good, fast forwards and more of the same on the bench, but theyâ€â„¢ll need the ball to show what they can do. It promises to be a very good game, and a great occasion, with Cavan and Cork also looking good for entertainment value. Galway vs Kildare is too difficult to predict. There is no link between these two teams to provide evidence if we believe one of them is better than the other. Itâ€â„¢s amazing, though, to see that Kildare are already said by many in the national media to be champions already! Thatâ€â„¢s pressure on Kieran McGeeney! We can only wish Alan Flynn and his players the best of luck and hope theyâ€â„¢ll be inspired by their winning habit in this campaign. Three down, two to go! The Galway team who won the Connacht U-21 final against Roscommon was: Thomas Healy (Corofin); Liam Silke (Corofin), James Shaughnessy (Ballinasloe), Eoin Walsh (Moycullen); Mark Loughnane (St Gabrielâ€â„¢s), Gearóid Canavan (Salthill-Knocknacarra), Paul Varley (Cortoon Shamrocks); Fiontán Ó Curraoin, captain (Mícheál Breathnachs), Damien Comer (Annaghdown); Cathal Mulryan (Cortoon Shamrocks), Seán Moran (Claregalway), Shane Maughan (St Michaelâ€â„¢s); Shane Walsh (Kilkerrin-Clonberne), Adrian Varley (Cortoon Shamrocks), Ian Burke (Corofin). Subs., Thomas Flynn (Athenry), for Silke, 28 mins; Conor Rabbitte (Kilkerrin-Clonberne), for Maughan, 44 mins; Pádraig Cunningham (Ballinasloe), for Moran, 45 mins; Philip Ezergailis (Moycullen), for Canavan, 49 mins; Gary Kelly (Williamstown), for Comer, 59 mins; Damien Comer for Mulryan, 75 mins; Shane Maughan for Adrian Varley, 76 mins; Mattie Heskin (Salthill-Knocknacarra), for Cunningham, 78 mins. David Cunnane (St Michaelâ€â„¢s) was introduced as Galwayâ€â„¢s 15th man for extra-time. Not playing: Daithí Burke (injured). The Kildare team who defeated Longford in the Leinster U-21 final was: Mark Donnellan; Michael Konstantin, David Hyland, Seán Higgins; Paul Cribbin, Fergal Conway, Jonathan Byrne; Tommy Moolick, Seán Hurley; Liam McGovern, Niall Kelly, Daniel Flynn; Paddy Brophy, Fionn Dowling, Pádraig Fogarty.[/private]