Galway look to Maughan in bid to regain minor crown

AFTER Mayo’s domination of the Connacht minor football grade over the last three years, both Galway and Roscommon will be eager to seize the opportunity to claim success in tomorrow’s provincial decider at Dr Hyde Park.

Galway are backboned by players from the St Jarlath’s side that reached the All-Ireland Colleges SAFC final in April with Liam Silke, Adrian Nolan, Ian Burke and Shane Walsh all impressive operators.

Shane Maughan struck 1-7 in Galway’s comfortable 4-13 to 0-11 semi-final triumph over Leitrim and he will be a key attacker as they bid to claim the county’s first triumph at this level since 2007.

Roscommon are seeking their first Connacht title since 2006 and Ross Shannon’s charges sparkled in their 3-8 to 1-8 semi-final win over Mayo. Donal Smith was their standout attacker in that game as he grabbed 1-4 from his centre-forward berth. John McManus, son of former senior star Tony, Mark Healy and Enda Lannon are also key players.

In the Ulster MFC final tomorrow, it will be Armagh and Cavan vying for honours in Clones.

Armagh last won this title in 2009 and subsequently went onto claim All-Ireland honours, while Cavan must go back to 1974 for their last Ulster minor crown. Paul McGeown, Ethan Rafferty and Calum Cumiskey are the main players in the Orchard side’s line-up as they have defeated Down by 3-11 to 5-4 and Fermanagh by 2-18 to 0-7 en route to this clash. Cavan have defeated Antrim by 2-11 to 2-2 and Tyrone by 2-13 to 2-10 with star performances by Conor Finnegan, Dara McVeety and Michael Argue.