GAELIC GAMES/ALL-IRELAND UNDER-21 HC SEMI-FINALS:THE AGE-old question in Galway's underage semi-finals – often adeptly answered – is how quickly they can sort out their best team without the advantage of a provincial campaign. Two weeks ago the minors were lucky to reach the extra-time that allowed them the space to improvise a successful outcome but they made it.
Missing their most promising forward Richie Cummins, Galway are still a formidable outfit with six seniors starting. They are also in good spirits, apparently unaffected by the alarming collapses that saw both the county’s seniors and intermediates crash out of their All-Ireland campaigns.
Limerick obviously have momentum, having won a great Munster championship after an electrifying final against Cork. The injury question mark over Kevin Downes is a major concern, as the captain and full forward has had a fine year with the seniors.
Declan Hannon delivered plentifully in the Munster final but the victory was reliant on goals, which might be as plentiful this evening.
Galway may just have enough to reach a second successive final.
LIMERICK: A Murphy; A Dempsey, P Begley, S O’Reilly; J O’Brien, C Hayes, T O’Callaghan; C Allis, S O’Brien; N Kennedy, D Hannon, S Dowling; M Ryan, K Downes, G Mulcahy.
GALWAY: J Ryan; D Connolly, N Donoghue, G O’Halloran; R Foy, P Gordon, J Grealish; J Coen, D Burke; B Daly, N Burke, T Haran; J Regan, C Cooney, D Glennon.
Referee: A Stapleton (Laois).