U-20 hurlers target Leinster crown
Henry Shefflin's Kilkenny stand in their way
By Billy Coss
GALWAY'S third title or Kilkenny's 29th?
The Leinster U-20 Hurling Championship arrives at an eagerly awaited conclusion in O'Moore Park, Portlaoise this evening with the Seán Robbins Cup set to travel west of the Shannon or make a shorter trip south to Noreside (throw-in: 7.35pm, live on TG4).
Key forward Aaron Niland has not been included in Galway's 24-man panel after picking an ankle injury that led to his substitution in Saturday's Leinster Senior Hurling Championship round-robin defeat to Dublin.
Fellow senior star Jason Rabbitte is again named on the bench after making a major impact after his introduction in last week's semi-final with Wexford that required extra-time.
The Athenry clubman also played at senior level against Dublin and is set to be a key cog in Micheál Donoghue's attack when they travel to Wexford on Sunday needing at least a draw to book a provincial final place.
Galway U-20 manager Gavin Keary has made one change to the team that defeated the Slaneysiders last Wednesday evening. Cullen Killeen comes in at midfield in place of Seán Moran.
Though bizarre to describe any final between the counties as novel, it's their first at provincial level at the age grade since Galway were admitted to Leinster in 2018.
The fixture also doubles up as an All-Ireland semi-final under the format with the winners going forward to meet Munster champions Clare in Thurles on Sunday week.
After defeating Wexford (4-12 to 1-8) and Kildare (1-19 to 0-9), Galway came through a stern test of their credentials against Kilkenny in the group phase (2-18 to 1-19).
The Cats did the bulk of the hurling in the first half but Galway had their noses in front at the break thanks to goals from Darragh Counihan and Brian Callanan.
They were also indebted to a couple of fantastic saves - from first-choice 'keeper Chris Callanan and his injured-enforced replacement Andrew Canning - before showing no little resolve to withstand a driving finish from Kilkenny that included a late Patrick Lacey penalty.
Lacey is the competition's leading scorer from play after shooting the lights out in Kilkenny's quarter-final with Offaly (5-23 to 1-10) and semi-final against Dublin (1-22 to 2-13).
His teammates Rory Garrett and Ed McDermott have featured for Derek Lyng's seniors this season along with St. Kieran's Croke Cup winning captain David Barcoe who missed last month's tie with Galway due to injury.
Jake Mullen - brother of Cats senior star, Adrian - is another player to watch out for in Henry Shefflin's side.
GALWAY: Chris Callanan (Clarinbridge); Thomas Blake (Oranmore-Maree), Mikey Fallon (Clarinbridge), Ed O’Reilly (Liam Mellows); Jonah Donnellan (Pádraig Pearses), Donnacha Campbell (captain, Cappataggle), Gavin Maher (Loughrea); Michael Burke (Skehana-Mountbellew-Moylough), Cullen Killeen (Loughrea); Luke Kennedy (Ahascragh-Fohenagh), Darragh Counihan (Clarinbridge), Jack Shaughnessy (Loughrea); Vince Morgan (Loughrea), Brian Callanan (Ardrahan), Ciarán Leen (Craughwell). Subs: Andrew Canning (Portumna), Dylan Quirke (Athenry), Gearóid King (Castlegar), Cathal Maloney (Ballygar), Harry Holmes (Ballygar), Seán Moran (Castlegar), Ronan Cahalan (Killimordaly), Jason Rabbitte (Athenry), Dara Burke (Kinvara).
KILKENNY: Jake O’Doherty (Mooncoin); Micheál Ahern (Emeralds), Rory Garrett (captain, Fenians), Darragh Vereker (Glenmore); Jim Conlon (Young Irelands), Jack Dollard (Glenmore), Mikey Rohan (Carrickshock); David Barcoe (Clara), Ben Nevin (Thomastown); Anthony Clifford (Dicksboro), Ed Lauhoff (James Stephens), Greg Kelly (O’Loughlin Gaels); Jake Mullen (Shamrocks Ballyhale), Ed McDermott (James Stephens), Patrick Lacey (Dicksboro). Subs: Seán McGrath (Graigue-Ballycallan), Kevin Buggy (Erin’s Own), Evan Murphy (Dicksboro), Josh Dowling (Erin’s Own), Louis Raggett (Dicksboro), Seán Bergin (James Stephens), Ruarc Sweeney (O’Loughlin Gaels), Cian Byrne (O’Loughlin Gaels), Ollie O’Donovan (John Lockes), Eoin Brennan (Erin’s Own), Seán Deely (James Stephens).