Galway vs Cork at Cusack Park, Ennis on Saturday evening

AS manager Alan Mulholland and his Galway U-21 football team prepare for their Cadbury's-sponsored All-Ireland semi-final clash with Munster champions Cork at Cusack Park, Ennis on Saturday evening (6.30), [private]a good friend of Herald Sport, Ollie Turner, Galway Bay fm Head of Sport, has been looking at past meetings between the counties in this grade â€â€ with Cork holding a 3-1 lead from the previous four meetings. 1965 All-Ireland semi-final: Cork 2-5 Galway 0-8. A fortuitous late goal from a long-range Batt O'Keeffe free which ended up in the Galway net gave the home side the victory at the Cork Athletic Grounds in just the second year of the U-21 competition. A first-half Donie Coughlan penalty gave Cork a two-point half-time advantage, but good point scoring by Galway centre-forward Frank Heaney and teenage midfielder Jimmy Duggan had the sides level at 1-5 to 0-8, until the late goal killed off Galway's chances. Cork went on to lose the All-Ireland final to Kildare. Galway: Greg Higgins, Noel Colleran, Mick Keane, Ray Niland, Colie McDonagh, Ray Gilmore, Jimmy Glynn, Frank Canavan, Jimmy Duggan (0-2), Michael Meade, Frank Heaney (0-4), Tommy Keenan, Liam Sammon (0-1), Liam Octigan (0-1), Johnny Kelly. 1981 drawn final and replay: Cork 0-14 Galway 2-8; Cork 2-9 Galway 1-6. Defending champions Cork retained their title after a replay in Ennis, but were flattered by an eventual 6-point winning margin. The drawn game was an epic battle where first-half Galway goals from a penalty by goalkeeper Pádraig Coyne and a brilliant Brian O'Donnell strike left the sides level at 2-4 to 0-10 at the break. It was nip and tuck again in the second half until Val Daly sent the game to a replay with a late point. Galway lost key players Hugh Bleahen and Brian O'Donnell to injury for the replay in early November but still led by three points early in the second half after a brilliant Aonghus Murphy goal. Unfortunately for the Tribesmen they didn't score again as goals by Niall O'Connor and Donal Kelleher gave Cork their 4th title. Incidentally, Tuam Herald staff photographer Ray Ryan was Galway's sub goalkeeper that year. Galway (drawn game): Pádraig Coyne (1-0, penalty), Jarlath Kelly, Pat Connolly, Pierce Clancy, Seamus Cronin, Tomás Tierney, Martin Gleeson, Aonghus Murphy (0-1), Hugh Bleahen (0-3), Val Daly (0-1), Michael Brennan, Máirtín Mac Donnacha, Pádraig O'Dea (0-2), Brian O'Donnell (1-1), Conor O'Dea. Subs used: Hugh Heskin and Padraic Kelly. Galway (replay): Pádraig Coyne, Seamus Cronin, Pat Connolly, Seán Rhatigan, Hugh Heskin, Tomás Tierney, Martin Gleeson, Aonghus Murphy (1-0), Padraic Kelly, Val Daly, Máirtín Mac Donnacha, Michael Brennan (0-2), Pádraig O'Dea, Conor O'Dea (0-3), Godfrey Gibbons (0-1). Subs: Michael Sweeney (for Mac Donnacha) and M. Mac Donnacha (for C. O'Dea). 1989 final: Cork 2-8 Galway 1-10. A poor first half cost Galway dear in a final played at the end of May in Limerick, as early goals by Denis O'Sullivan and a Michael Mullins penalty gave Cork a 2-2 to 0-3 interval lead. Galway went 7 points down before the switch of Kevin Walsh and John Joyce to midfield sparked a comeback and despite a late goal by Alan O'Connor, Cork were mightily relieved to hold on to win by the narrowest of margins. Galway: Adrian Brennan, John Kilraine, Francis McWalter, Bosco Walsh, Padraig Fallon, Alan Mulholland, Nollaig Ó Neachtain, Brian Moylan, Alan O'Connor (1-1), Seán de Paor, Tomás Mannion (0-3), Fergal O'Neill, Tomás Kilcommins, Kevin Walsh (0-1), Tommy Finnerty (0-5). Subs used: Brian Silke, John Joyce and Enda Geraghty. 2005 semi-final: Galway 0-17 Cork 1-11. Galway finally ended their Cork hoodoo at U-21 level by registering a 3-point win at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. A brilliant start for Galway did the damage, with Michael Meehan and Seán Armstrong the main tormentors in building up a 0-8 to 0-0 lead.  A Daniel Goulding goal gave Cork hope at half-time as they cut the deficit to 0-11 to 1-4 and the comeback would have been complete but for the crossbar denying Fintan Gould with 14 minutes left. Galway settled, with Meehan and Armstrong adding further to their incredible tallies which accounted for all but two of the Galway points, and the win would eventually see Galway go on to defeat Down in the All-Ireand final. Galway: Micheál Killilea, Alan Burke, Finian Hanley, Matthew Flannery, Darren Mullahy, Niall Coyne, Gary Sice, Niall Coleman, Barry Cullinane, Cillín de Paor, Damien Dunleavy, Fiachra Breathnach (0-1), Michael Meehan (0-8), Cathal Blake, Seán Armstrong (0-7). Subs used: Brian Flaherty (0-1), Alan Glynn, Jamie Murphy, Cathal Duffy and Micheál Feeney. Turning to next Saturday evening, Galway go to Ennis having first eliminated Sligo at Markievicz Park before beating Roscommon in the Connacht final at Pearse Stadium, 1-10 to 0-4. The winning team was: Manus Breathnach (An Spidéal); Aonghus Tierney (Tuam Stars), Colin Forde (Killererin, captain), Gary Sweeney (Mountbellew-Moylough); Joss Moore (Mountbellew-Moylough), Jonathan Duane (St James's), Tomás Fahy (Killererin, 0-1); Thomas Flynn (Athenry), Fionntán Ó Curraoin (Micheál Breathnachs); Conor Doherty (Tuam Stars, 0-1), Mark Hehir (Milltown, 0-3, one free), Ml. Boyle (Killererin 0-1); Danny Cummins (Claregalway, 0-2), Patrick Sweeney (Killanin, 0-2), Eric Monahan (Caherlistrane). Subs:  Adrian Murphy (Kilconly, 1-0), for Monahan, 50 mins; J. J. Greaney (Oughterard), for P. Sweeney, 57 mins; Conor Halloran (Salthill-Knocknacarra), for Cummins, 61 mins. In the Munster final at Páirc Uí Rinn, Cork scored a surprisingly easy win over a highly rated Kerry team, 2-24 to 0-8. The Cork team was: S. Mellet; L. Jennings, D. Cahalane, A. Cronin; P. Daly, T. Clancy, J. Wall (0-2); M. Ó Laoire (0-1), A. Walsh; C. Sheehan (0-3), M. Collins (0-7, five frees), J. O'Rourke; B. O'Driscoll (1-6, one free, one 45), D. Óg Hodnett (1-4), P. Honohan. Subs: D O'Donovan for Cronin (40 mins), E Buckley (0-1) for O'Driscoll (48), S Beston for Honohan (51), B Coughlan for Sheehan (54), D Nation for Walsh (55). NHL â€â€ Galway vs Waterford on Sunday NATIONAL Hurling League on Sunday, Round 7. Waterford vs Galway, at Walsh Park, Waterford, 2.30 p.m., Cork vs Dublin, at a Dublin venue, 2.30; Kilkenny vs Offaly, at Nowlan Park, Kilkenny, 2.30; Tipperary vs Wexford, at Thurles, 2.30. Curtain-raiser at Semple Stadium on Sunday, 12.45, National Camogie League final: Galway vs Wexford.[/private]