1. Can big players deliver?
It’s hard to believe that 2013 Hurler of the Year Tony Kelly is still U21, but he will line out on Sunday hoping to make up for a disappointing senior campaign. Kelly is joined by Shane O’Donnell, who suffered an injury plagued season but has returned to full fitness and is ready to make an impact following persistent hamstring trouble and a broken hand.
Jack Guiney will also play his last underage game for Wexford tonight and, along with Conor McDonald carries Wexford’s scoring threat tonight. Defenders Seadna Morey and Liam Ryan will have a big role to play for Clare and Wexford respectively in a game where the senior stars will hope to lead the way.
2. Last game for Clare’s golden generation
The curtain will fall on this remarkable talented crop of Clare youngsters after tonight’s game. Together they’ve delivered five straight Munster titles between minor and U21 level and could sign off with a third U21 All-Ireland in-a-row.
For many of Clare’s starting fifteen, their underage adventure will come to an end tonight, barring a replay. Can they become the first team since Limerick in 2002 to win three U21 titles back-to-back?
3. Semi-final momentum
Clare are 1/4 odds on favourites with most bookmakers heading into the game, but the lack of a test in their facile semi-final win over Antrim may be a concern. The Banner handed out a 27-point trimming to the Ulster champions, while Wexford overcame a fierce battle with Galway by two points.
The Slaneysiders trailed by a point at half-time and trailed by four early in the second half before they finished strongly to book their first All-Ireland U21 final in 13 years.
4. Can Wexford bridge the gap?
Wexford are bidding for only their second All-Ireland title at this grade and first since 1965. Their resurgence at senior level this year was no doubt helped by the presence of a number of the current U21 crop.
They were stunned by Antrim in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final and tonight represents a huge opportunity for Wexford to bring home some silverware and round-off a positive year for hurling in the county.
5. Clare’s lightning fast starts
In their wins over Cork and Antrim, the Banner have blown the opposition out of the water in the opening quarter. Both games were as good as over after Clare’s electric starts propelled them into substantial early leads. If Wexford are to upset the odds tonight, a good start will be pivotal.
If u don’t care don’t vote
God some people are just too cool! If only I had thought of coming up with such a cool opening line! But evidently it’s off to school for me for not being cool enough!
I can’t believe it’s almost 50/50 here. What business do the managers have in dictating who should be commentating on games?
And in even bringing up the issue like this so publicly, they’ve effectively made it so RTE cannot back down on this, where some private words may have had some influence.
The self righteousness of the GAA community can be exasperating sometimes.
Amazing that it is almost 50/50! Considering most of the “commenters” seem to be supporting RTE’s stance.
Any chance of a “I don’t care option on the poll”
Then just don’t bother with it surely.
I didn’t
Who runs RTE, the GAA ?. Stick to the football lads, it’s what you do best, most of the time.
Ya managers should be spending more time worrying about on the field antics rather than off the field. Are these the same guys who complain about players rising up and going on strike and players tweeting? Surely this is the same kind of antics under different circumstances!
Why is an RTE IR issue anything but the business of RTE itself?
The GAA managers can comment on an individual basis if they like, but it’s nothing to do with them.
This meddling, on a wider scale, is the same mindset that led to the church trying to run the country, and the GAA in a former incarnation, trying to do likewise.
If it were a group of, say, politicians refusing to engage with a political commentator, there would be uproar.
Mind you, FF tried that before the last election, but that’s not exactly a surprise.
The GAA managers shpuld mind their own business and do what they are hired to do and getting weel paid for it……sshh dont tell anyone that last bit!! lol
I’m agreeing with the managers but only because I can’t stand canning or morrisey commentating. It’s a very odd situation though.
I’m with RTE for the reverse. :-)
He’s a dreadful commentator who emphasises all of the prepositions in his delivery. *In* Croke Park, *on* the halfway line etc. Couple his high pitched whine with his stock phrases of ‘a man called…’ and ‘none other than…’ and it’s enough to have me chewing the steering wheel!
Heaven forbid you’d want to know the score in a game either. I’ve often writhed through five or ten minutes of his ramblings just to get a score check.
Can’t abide his commentary. It’s an I’ll wind…
I’ve heard he’s being lined up for the Olympic Games as one of the lead commentators next year. Now if thats a snub then I take it any time. These guys should stick to the field and leave external politics out of it.
What did Carthy do to put RTE of side anyway.
Just a shite commentator. Should get ANY matches at any level. Pure drivel.
The managers should mind their own business.
I’m with Gus. His RISING pitch drives me loopy.
I don’t care!
There should be a neither of the above option. Carthy shouldn’t be lead commentator but the managers have a point in being annoyed at the way RTÉ prioritise – or don’t prioritise – GAA games. That’s the fundamental point.
See if I care….
I wonder how would the GAA Managers feel if RTE got onto the President of the GAA and said “We’re not covering any of your matches until so and so is appointed Manager of X county. talk about nonsense.
can’t have the manager’s telling us licence payer’s ,who to employ like the old day’s of the church telling us what to watch, seen that mickey harte is from tyrone does he even have a tv licence for rte.
Should be a Neither option on this Poll. Its Pointless!! RTE is and alway will be a Click anyhow!! Mind you Andy Gray and Richard Keyes are doin nothing at the moment. might spice up the camogie final!!!! Just joking!!!!!