Experienced Cork ready to up the ante
Cork are the most experienced of the quartet. This will be their third semi-final appearance in-a-row and they will be desperately keen to make it to their first final in 12 years.
Laois will provide the opposition at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick tomorrow (3.30pm), and despite the furore between their senior and under-21 selectors, the Leinster champions, who are looking for their first ever title at this level, will be very difficult to beat.
“If we are to win the title we’ll have to play and beat the best,” said Cork coach Tony Leahy.
“Laois have had their problems this week but that’s no concern of ours. All we can do is concentrate on our own game and hope that we can maintain our winning run.
“This is a massive game for Cork. The ante goes up with every outing, and Laois have been making tremendous strides at under age level in recent years, and like ourselves, badly need to win an under-21 title to boost senior prospects.
“We haven’t been in the final since 1994, which is far too long for a county the size of Cork. We’ve won three Munster titles in-a-row but so far have failed to make it to the All-Ireland final.
“This particular group need to play and win a final to be remembered. They all need to taste All-Ireland success if they are to make it onto the senior team.”
Tomorrow’s clash between Laois and Cork will evoke memories of the tempestuous minor All-Ireland quarter-final at the same venue two years ago.
Leahy says it will have no bearing on this semi-final: “That’s consigned to history. The thoughts of both counties are on this game only and getting to the final is all that matters.”
Cork go into the game without Roy Leahy, who broke his hand in a club game at the weekend. He’ll be a loss as he was shaping up well after being introduced in the first round against Kerry in Killarney.
On a more positive note, John Hayes, who missed out on the Munster final after breaking a bone in his hand against Tipperary, could make a dramatic return.
Laois boss Sean Dempsey said they’ll have no excuses if they are beaten tomorrow.
“We are at full strength and looking forward to what will be a very stern test for our lads.
“Cork have a number of top class players, particularly in attack, and they’ll take minding. We did well to win the Leinster final against Longford in their back yard, and if we can produce that form again, it could be good enough.
“Laois has not won an under-21 All-Ireland title. We lost two finals, in 1964 and 1998. This particular group of players need to build on their All-Ireland minor success of 2003 when the defeated Dublin in a replay. A lot of work has gone into preparing the team but we’ll have to be at our very best to get the result.”
Tyrone manager Liam Donnelly has finally been convinced that his side has what it takes to make a genuine challenge for the title.
The Red Hands hit form for the first time this season in the Ulster final, but Donnelly is very conscious of Mayo’s impressive defeat of holders Galway in the Connacht decider.
“They beat what was a highly rated Galway team, scoring 15 points against them. They’re going very well, and will be very formidable opposition.”
The Red Hands will have to go into their semi-final without ace attacker Damien ‘Daisy’ McDermott, whose second double yellow in recent weeks has earned him a ban.
“We’ll be looking at the bench again. Damien has been playing well, but we have had to deal with blows like that before,” said Donnelly.
“The boys have shown they have a bit of resolve, a bit of character and a bit of experience, that they can deal with these things.
“We have a reasonably strong panel and when you ask fellas to step in, they generally deliver, and that’s all you can ask for.”
Mayo’s last under-21 success came 23 years ago, when they defeated Derry in a replay to take the title.
According to team coach Pat Horan, that’s far too long for a football county like Mayo.
“Few people gave us any hope this year but we have a very good crop of players keen to do well and the victory over Galway has whetted the appetite. Our team includes three current seniors, Keith Higgins, Trevor Howley and Brian Moran. We have no real stars, just a very evenly balanced team.
“Tyrone seem to have a conveyor belt of talent and when you consider they won the Ulster title without a number of key players, they will take some beating.
“Preparations have gone well and while we are under no illusions about the task that confronts us, we’ll going into the game confident we can get a result.”
