Johnny Kelly’s county U-21 panel put in a mighty effort in Semple stadium last Saturday evening, but unfortunately they fell short in the last few minutes to bow out of the U-21 championship at the semi-final stage by two points, on a score-line of Galway 1-19, Wexford 1-21.
Wexford were simply the stronger finishers, and J.J. Doyle’s men pulled away from a Galway side playing its first game of the year in the last few exchanges.
Wexford had played three championship games, whereas Galway had none, yet despite that disadvantage to the lads in maroon and white, the result was in doubt to the last with Galway sub Jack Carr having a last-gasp shot from distance, but one that was saved.
There was not much between the teams at any stage and the sides were level ten times throughout the highly entertaining contest.
The first half had almost a score per minute with just five wides recorded and Galway led by 1-14 to 1-13 at the small whistle.
In fact, it was Galway’s poor shooting after the interval that proved the difference between the sides.
Kelly was rightly very proud of his team and their efforts.
“We threw everything at them. It was a great game. Unfortunately we had a lot of wides and that was crucial. We only had one wide in the entire first half, and we had nine chances in the last ten minutes and hit seven wides. Up to that, everything we struck, we scored. The effort was there. We put everything into this.”
“All I can do is go back to these guys and thank them for their effort… the sacrifices that these young Galway players put in since February. Even going back to last year: we blooded a lot of those young lads last year against Clare with the intention of this year. We came out to win and there is no consolation losing a thrilling game.”
Wexford will face Clare in the final.
Galway: S Mannion; D O’Donoghue, J Hanbury, P Killeen; B Keane, D Higgins, A Tuohy 0-1; C Diviney, E Burke 0-1; P Brehony 1-6, S Maloney 0-6 (3f ), C Mannion 0-3; J Flynn, J Glynn 0-1, D Dolan.
Subs: B Molloy 0-1 for Dolan (23 ), E Brannigan for Diviney (47 ), J Carr for Flynn (56 ).
