There should be some top-class football on show this Sunday afternoon at Pearse Stadium (4pm ) when the two best u-21 sides in the county face off in the county A final.
St James, who are managed and coached this year by Terry O’Regan and Seamus Burke, had an impressive 0-12 to 0-7 victory in their semi-final victory over Salthill-Knockcarra, while Ollie Burke’s Corofin outfit saw off Caltra easily on a score-line of 2-9 to 0-6 in the North Board final.
Three years ago in the corresponding county minor final it was the city side who emerged victorious and they will be keen to replicate that success at u-21 level.
The “Jimmies” have had a really vibrant underage structure over the past few years and the fruits of that labour are now being seen at adult level.
This current u-21 side has some very talented performers in the likes of team captain Johnny Duane and his midfield colleague Aaron Connolly.
In defence they will look to big displays from full back Cathal Walsh, and Shane Coughlan and Andrew Burke in the half-back line.
Up front, much expectation will be on free-taker Eoghan O’Regan to hit a solid tally. However he has some very capable colleagues in the full-forward line with big Ronan O’Connell and Castlegar senior hurler Owen Teagle making up a potent inside line.
Mike Elwood, at number 11, is another good player. He scored two good points from play in the semi-final, and he will have to be well marshalled by the Corofin defence.
Corofin face tough task on Sunday
Former All-Ireland minor winner with Galway in 1976, Ollie Burke, is joined on the Corofin management ticket by Gabriel Mannion, Gerry Burke, Ger Keane and Justin Burke.
They will know they face a tough task on Sunday to collect the trophy, but they are very hopeful of getting a big performance from their squad.
A key battle will be at midfield and Corofin will need Daithí Burke and Alan Molloy firing on all cylinders in their battle with Duane and Connolly.
Enda Fleming, Eanna Langan, Liam Silke and Conor Keady are all accomplished defenders and they will relish their individual duels with the St James attack.
Up front Corofin will look to Ian Burke, Sean Silke, Oisín Mannion and team captain Adrian Molloy to provide the match-winning scores.
The North Board club is looking to win its third county u-21 title in a row; St James will be looking to collect its first. It promises to be an intriguing game and there is not expected to be much between the sides.
With two lively inside lines on both teams, it will probably be whichever duo at midfield are dominant who will decide the outcome.
