Spotlight on Galway U-20s as inaugural All-Ireland champions

IT is the turn of the All-Ireland winning Galway U-20 ladies football team to soak in the enjoyment of a homecoming on Sunday.

A few weeks after the Galway Senior side returned to Tuam Stadium with the Brendan Martin Cup following a 22-year wait, the Galway U20s will do their homecoming tour of the county across several stops, from approximately 10am to 8pm.

The team will stop at clubs in the local area that produced players for the squad, including Kilconly, Tuam Cortoon, Dunmore, Kilkerrin-Clonberne, Monivea-Abbey and others.

Galway defeated Donegal in the final in July by 3-11 to 1-9 in Tubbercurry to win the inaugural All-Ireland U-20 Championship. Captained by Klara Banek from Oughterard, Galway’s three goals were scored by the St. Fursey’s duo of Alisha O’Malley (two) and Ava Heneghan.

Kevin Joyce managed Galway to success at the grade. Galway defeated Meath, Mayo and Cork in a round-robin series, before losing their only game to Dublin. Donegal came through a six-team Ulster competition to make the final.

Meanwhile, Galway LGFA are seeking expressions of interest for two underage inter-county managerial positions at U-14 and Minor level.

Application forms can be sourced from their website – www.galwaylgfa.ie – or on request by emailing secretary.galway@lgfa.ie. Completed applications have to be sent in by 5pm on Tuesday, September 1.