Galway U16s in finals action

First time to have one county panel

THE Galway U16 squad are in action in two finals, in Clare and Longford, tomorrow, Saturday. (Aug 16)

The Galway Maroons play Kerry in the Ted Webb Cup final at midday at the Clare GAA Centre of Excellence in Caherlohan.

At 10.30am on Saturday, the Galway Whites face Offaly in the Fr Mannion Shield final in Pearse Park in Longford.

Wins over Dublin and Westmeath in their group, despite a loss to Cork, allowed the Galway Maroons to advance to the Ted Webb Cup semi-final, where they defeated Meath in Trim by 7-18 to 4-9 in Trim.

The Ted Webb Cup was revamped a couple of years ago, and Kerry came through a group that contained Meath, Mayo and Laois, and were victorious over Cork in their semi-final.

The Galway Whites beat Leitrim in the Fr Mannion Shield semi-final. They emerged from a group where they defeated Roscommon, drew with Cork North, and lost to Kerry South.

This is the first time there has been one sole U16 county panel in Galway. A number of panel members were in action with the Galway U17s earlier this year.

Mícheál Breathnach have six players on the U16 panel, and Caherlistrane have five. Tuam Stars, Corofin and Claregalway are represented by four players apiece.

Two players each from Dunmore MacHales and Monivea-Abbey are involved, while there are players from Annaghdown, Caltra, Kilconly, Kilkerrin-Clonberne, Milltown, and St Brendan’s.

Cossie Gilmore from the Bearna na Forbacha club is managing the Galway U16 squad. He is joined in the backroom team by Des Sheerin (Salthill-Knocknacarra), Garvan McDaid (Monivea-Abbey), Pat Buckley (Claregalway), Mike Finnerty (Caltra), Fiach Ó Bearra (Mícheál Breathnach), Dónal De Barra (An Spidéal), Eddie Forde (Milltown), and goalkeeping coach James Keane (Bearna-Na Forbacha).