Inside Track with John McIntyre

WITH nine All-Ireland minor hurling titles in the last 19 years, including five of the last eight, you’d imagine that Galway would be more than content with the championship structure. After all, they have to play less matches than any other county to capture the Irish Press Cup.

But Galway remains aggrieved over their continued exclusion from the provincial championship and that frustration has manifested itself in a motion at this weekend’s GAA Congress appealing for the county to be granted access to either Leinster or Munster at U17 level.

Galway claim to have no problem with the prospect of winning less All-Ireland titles if they are treated the same as everyone other team. Currently, they should be at a disadvantage facing into a robin-robin system against counties with heaps of matches behind them from their respective provinces, but it hasn’t stopped Galway from dominating the minor hurling landscape.

That scenario underlines the consistent high-quality teams being produced by the county, but Galway’s understandable argument is that the lack of games is denying their players the opportunity to develop more. Unfortunately, when you are winning minor titles hand over fist, it weakens that argument.

Though Galway can’t be blamed for the likes of Offaly and Wexford – who have a paltry three Leinster titles between them since 1989 – lagging well behind in minor ranks, the last thing these counties want is the boys from the West joining their championship. Whatever chance Offaly and Wexford have without Galway, they would have little or none with them being around.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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