EOIN WALSH RETURNS from suspension to start in defence for Galway in tomorrow’s All-Ireland U21 football final against Cork at the Gaelic Grounds.
Walsh was sent-off in the Connacht decider against Roscommon and missed out on their All-Ireland semi-final victory over Kildare.
The Moycullen player starts at corner-back with Mark Loughnane moving out to the half-back line as Gearoid Canavan drops to the bench.
Midfield duo Tom Flynn and Fiontan O Curraoin are the only two survivors from the Galway team that defeated Cork in the 2011 All-Ireland U21 semi-final in Cusack Park in Ennis.
Goalkeeper Thomas Healy was a member of the Galway panel that day.
GALWAY: Thomas Healy (Corofin); Eoin Walsh (Moycullen), James Shaughnessy (Ballinasloe), David Cunnane (St Michael’s); Mark Loughnane (St Gabriel’s), Daithi Burke (Corofin), Paul Varley (Cortoon Shamrocks); Tom Flynn (Athenry), Fiontan O’Curraoin (Micheal Breathnach); Cathal Mulryan (Cortoon Shamrocks), Sean Moran (Claregalway), Damien Comer (Annaghdown); Shane Walsh (Kilkerrin-Clonberne), Adrian Varley (Cortoon Shamrocks), Ian Burke (Corofin).
Subs: James Healy (Annaghdown), Gearoid Canavan (Salthill-Knocknacarra), Philip Ezergailis (Moycullen), Liam Silke (Corofin), Eoghan Commins (Claregalway), Conor Rabbitte (Kilkerrin-Clonberne), Padraig Cunningham (Ballinasloe), Garry Kelly, Shane Maughan (St Michael’s).
Cork U21 manager John Cleary has named an unchanged side for the game.
The young Rebels that held on narrowly for a one point win over Cavan in the semi finals have been rewarded for the grit and fighting spirit they displayed.
Sean Kiely and Ian Maguire form the midfield partnership again with Brian Hurley leading the forward line and the solid Damien Cahalane once again taking up his role at fullback.
Looking ahead to the much-anticipated clash, Cleary told TheScore.ie, “We’ve played [Galway] over the years and they’ve always been good football teams. I don’t think our players will be found wanting on determination and will to win but they’ll need to perform.”
Between them the two counties have claimed four of the last eight titles.
CORK: David Hanrahan (Douglas); Conor Dorman (Bishopstown), Damien Cahalane (Castlehaven), Alan Cronin (Nemo Rangers); Brian O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaigh), Tom Clancy (Clonakilty), Jamie Wall (Kilbrittain); Sean Kiely (Ballincollig), Ian Maguire (St Finbarr’s); Alan Cadogan (Douglas), Mark Sugrue (Bandon), John O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers); Dan MacEoin (Ilen Rovers), Brian Hurley (Castlehaven), Luke Connolly (Nemo Rangers).
Subs: Patrick Kirby (Tadhg Mac Carthaigh), Conor O’Sullivan (Clyda Rovers), Kevin Crowley (Millstreet), T.J. Brosnan (Newmarket), Kevin Fulignati (Nemo Rangers), Jamie Burns (St. Finbarr’s), Kevin Hallissey (Eire Óg), Cathal Vaughan (Iveleary), Thomas Hegarty (O’Donovan Rossa).
