Hassle-free final suits Tribe boss

GALWAY U21 boss Anthony Cunningham is relieved there will be no repeat of the venue controversy that overshadowed their preparations for last year’s Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U21HC final, ahead of this year’s decider against Dublin in Semple Stadium on September 10.

Galway failed in their attempts to get last season’s final changed from Semple Stadium, arguing it gave opponents Tipperary an unfair advantage. The GAA moved to rectify that problem this year by announcing that any future finals involving Tipp would be moved.

Cunningham is glad his side can now focus on their own preparations.

“We’re glad that there’ll be no sideshows this year ,” he said. “I think that Galway as a county have to do that and just concentrate on hurling. There’s been a lot of talk in public and in the press this summer, wondering what’s going on.

“But we just have to concentrate on the field. We need to keep developing these players and there’s thanks to Mattie Ryan with the coaching he has done with these guys through the summer. That’s what Galway hurling needs, a lot of development.”