1. Two most successful counties at U21 level this century
DUBLIN AND GALWAY have been the two most dominant teams at this grade since 2000.
They’ve shared eight titles between them in the last 15 years, four apiece, leaving them ahead of Tyrone (3), Cork (2), Mayo (2), Kerry (1) and Armagh (1) in the roll of honour this century.
Interestingly, Galway’s first victory in 1972 was the only time either county managed to lift the U21 All-Ireland prior to 2002.
All-Ireland U21 football finals
- Galway: Wins - 1972, 2002, 2005, 2011, 2013. Runners up - 1981, 1989, 1992
- Dublin: Wins - 2003, 2010, 2012, 2014. Runners up - 1975, 1980, 2002
Both Galway and Dublin have brought home the trophy on each of their last four trips to the final. Dublin’s last defeat in an U21 decider was to Galway in 2002, when Joe Bergin, Michael Meehan and Nicky Joyce helped the Tribe defeat a Sky Blues team containing Stephen Cluxton, Bryan Cullen, Alan Brogan and Tomas Quinn.
Both counties are well behind their Munster counterparts in the overall U21 pecking order. As this is the last U21 competition before it drops to U20 next year, Cork will go down as the most successful side with 11 titles, while Kerry sit one behind on 10.
2. Have Galway already peaked?
Galway were considered serious underdogs in the semi-final when they faced a Kerry team backboned by three groups of All-Ireland minor winners.
But the Tribesmen stunned the heavily-fancied Kerry outfit and led by 1-7 to 0-1 after a devastating opening 10 minutes.
It was a clinical display by Galway, who needed extra-time to beat Sligo in the Connacht final.
After such huge performance the last day out, Galway boss Gerry Fahy will be hoping his players have another level to reach against Dessie Farrell’s well-drilled Dubs in the final.
The danger is we’ve already seen the best of Galway, and they’ll be relying on players like Dessie Conneely, Robert Finnerty, Michael Daly, Cillian McDaid and Céin D’Arcy to get to the tempo quickly against Dublin.
3. Last ever All-Ireland U21 football final
Both Galway and Dublin have the opportunity to go down in history as the last teams to write their names on the All-Ireland U21 football trophy.
From 2018, the age-grade will be lowered to U20 and no player who has been named on a senior inter-county team will be eligible for the new competition.
From next year the competition will run from June to August as part of another step by the GAA to tackle burnout among elite underage players.
Since it was first contested in 1964, 16 counties won the title outright. Only Cork (1984-1986) and Kerry (1975-1977) managed a three-in-a-row, while Tyrone did the last double (2000-2001).
4. How do these Dubs compare to previous U21 teams?
Dublin have successful harvested a plethora of stars from their three U21 successes since 2010. Rory O’Carroll, Jonny Cooper, James McCarthy and Dean Rock rolled off the production line from the 2010 victory over Donegal, while Jack McCaffrey and Ciaran Kilkenny established themselves from the All-Ireland final winning crop against Roscommon two years later.
Dublin’s last win in 2014, also over the Rossies, produced currently senior panellists David Byrne, Eric Lowndes, John Small, McCaffrey, Brian Fenton, Niall Scully, Paul Mannion, Cormac Costello and Conor McHugh.
Of Farrell’s current crop, Con O’Callaghan looks destined for a bright future, while Evan Comerford, Tom Fox, Aaron Byrne and Colm Basquel should all challenge for places on Jim Gavin’s senior panel over the coming years.
5. Has Dublin’s build-up been affected?
It hasn’t been an ideal build-up for Farrell’s men, many of whom featured in the Dublin SFC last weekend. A messy standoff saw talks between the Dublin U21 management and the county board take place, before the CCC confirmed the club fixtures would take take.
Shane Clayton was the only high profile casualty from the club games. Clayton started at corner-back for Ballyboden in their clash against Oliver Plunkett’s Eoghan Ruadh but went off injured after 17 minutes.
Clayton featured as a 60th minute substitute in the semi-final win over Donegal, and it’s unclear whether he’s recovered in time to take a place among Farrell’s substitutes.
The opening round of the Galway SFC isn’t set to take place until the weekend of 13/14 May, meaning Fahy’s team have enjoyed a distraction free lead-in to this game.
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