All-Ireland U-21 football champions 2013 will have won it the hard way

By JIM CARNEY FOR Galway U-21 footballers, itâ€â„¢s the fifth and final round in their fight for the All-Ireland crown. After four wins, and four very impressive displays, Galway take on Munster champions Cork in the final of the Cadbury-sponsored Championship at Páirc na Gael, Limerick on Saturday evening at 7.00 oâ€â„¢clock. Eagerly awaited, itâ€â„¢s another opportunity for Galway football to win back the support lost by one disappointment after another at senior level in recent years, indeed as far back as the glory days of the John Oâ€â„¢Mahony era. Since the 2001 S.F.C. victory, one Minor Championship (2007) and three U-21 titles have been won but crowds following the county teams have dwindled â€â€ in sharp contrast to Galway hurling teams at all levels, no matter how many times our Liam MacCarthy Cup hopes were dashed. This yearâ€â„¢s U-21 football panel have a loyal, enthusiastic following, getting bigger in numbers with each outing. Galway fans were especially vocal at Tuam Stadium for the Connacht semi-final against Mayo and next time out against Roscommon in the Connacht final, and most of them were also at Oâ€â„¢Connor Park, Tullamore for the All-Ireland semi-final win over Kildare but it was more difficult for them to be heard that day with four counties represented in a double-bill. The first of the five games in the Galway U-21sâ€â„¢ campaign was at home to Sligo, at Tuam Stadium, a surprisingly easy win by 1-20 to 0-7, which showed that Alan Flynnâ€â„¢s team had scoring forwards. Then they confidently took a big step-up in class against a Cillian Oâ€â„¢Connor-led Mayo team, again in Tuam, and it was also a test of character, which they passed splendidly. From there, winning by 0-9 to 0-7, with the defence particularly hard-working, Galway had to dig even deeper. Roscommon were favourites to win the Connacht final but Galway held them off with a combination of spirit, total commitment and fast, skilful football. Coming up to the end of â€Ëœnormalâ€â„¢ time, every young man in Maroon and White rose to the occasion magnificently and forced extra-time, which they dominated to win by 1-17 to 2-11. Against a highly-rated Kildare team, considered to have won a quality Leinster Championship, Galway again played very good football; it did the work for them, in contrast to the opposition who had intimidating height and physical power but most of the time they werenâ€â„¢t comfortable on the ball and they shot a whopping 19 wides. There was no doubt about the merit of Galwayâ€â„¢s win, on a 2-10 to 2-5 scoreline. In Part 2 of the All-Ireland semi-finals double-bill at Tullamore, Munster three-in-a-row champions Cork defeated Ulster three-in-a-row champions Cavan by 0-15 to 1-11. Cork were leading by six points with only 11 minutes left in the game but Cavan then hit 1-2 and they missed a last-gasp free which would have forced extra-time. That Cork team was: D. Hanrahan; C. Dorman, D. Cahalane, captain, A. Cronin; B. Oâ€â„¢Driscoll, T. Clancy, J. Wall; S. Kiely, I. Maguire; A. Cadogan, M. Sugrue, J. Oâ€â„¢Rourke; D. MacEoin, B. Hurley, L. Connolly. Subs used: C. Vaughan, TJ Brosnan, J. Burns. Galway (vs Kildare): Tom Healy (Corofin); Mark Loughnane (St Gabrielâ€â„¢s), James Shaughnessy (Ballinasloe), David Cunnane (St Michaelâ€â„¢s); Daithí Burke (Corofin), Paul Varley (Cortoon Shamrocks), Gearóid Canavan (Salthill-Knocknacarra); Thomas Flynn (Athenry), Fiontán Ó Curraoin, captain (Micheál Breathnachs); Cathal Mulryan (Cortoon Shamrocks), Seán Moran (Claregalway), Damien Comer (Annaghdown,); Shane Walsh (Kilkerrin-Clonberne), Adrian Varley (Cortoon Shamrocks), Ian Burke (Corofin). Subs used: Conor Rabbitte (Kilkerrin-Clonberne), Philip Ezergalis (Moycullen), Liam Silke (Corofin), Eoghan Commins (Claregalway). By winning all their games playing skilful football, with no negative tactics, no fear and no inferiority complex, Galway have sent out a great message. Itâ€â„¢s impossible to predict the outcome of this final but itâ€â„¢s easy to feel that Galway have what it takes to win it, if they play well and work as hard as theyâ€â„¢ve worked all through the campaign. For the record, Cork top the U-21 Championship Roll of Honour with eleven titles: 1970, 1971, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1994, 2007, 2009. Kerry have 10 titles; Galway, Mayo and Tyrone are each on four; holders Dublin have won three titles. Galwayâ€â„¢s four titles were won in 1972, 2002, 2005, 2011.