Galway U21s overcome semi-final hang-ups

Galway 0-21 Dublin 0-19 (after extra time): On many levels Galway required this win. There was last week’s senior disappointment, last week’s minor disappointment and the disappointment suffered at this very juncture for the last four Augusts.

Not since 2011 has Galway won an All-Ireland U21 semi-final and the county’s latest batch appeared to have blown their chance at a final spot when allowing Dublin force extra-time 20 seconds after the allotted three minutes of stoppages had been played.

Trailing 0-10 to 0-7 at the break, the young Tribesmen had the backing of a stiff breeze in the second-half and six unanswered points between the 32nd and 44th minute suggested they’d set up a final date against Waterford with a bit to spare.