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Over the past two decades Galway minor hurling teams have enjoyed several bountiful Sunday afternoons in September, and Mattie Murphy’s current crop of youngsters will be anxious to add another to the collection this weekend.

After the bitter frustration and disappointment of last year’s defeat in the All Ireland final to Kilkenny, Mattie Murphy and his minor charges head up the road again to Croke Park hoping to collect the 2009 title and gain some measure of revenge for that sickening loss.

Kilkenny beat Galway by two points in last year's final, while Galway's sole win against the black-and-amber in a final was in 2004 when they won a replay. Kilkenny’s Minor hurling manager Richie Mulrooney spoke to the Kilkenny Advertiser about his side’s chances this weekend. “ We are quietly confident of our chances this weekend, we have performed well all year and won’t give up.” With injuries a major worry for most managers Mulrooney is no different. “We are down our star fullback Willie Phelan who has a broken collarbone” he said. “We have replaced him with Danny Kenny and he will do the job very well”, added Mulrooney. Picking the team wont be difficult for the minor manager and his backroom team. “It’s not hard choosing the team. The top 15 for the day will be chosen because at that time they are the best in their positions but the guys not chosen will be disappointed and they should be,” said Mulrooney. Before the minors enter the fray on Sunday Mulrooney will have many words of wisdom for them. “ I will tell them to take the game to their opponents rather than the other way around. To never give up even if they are in control. I will remind them to remain focused at all times.”

Galway took their eighth ESB All-Ireland minor hurling title in impressive fashion with a four-point win over Kilkenny at Croke Park on Sunday.

Galway took their eighth ESB All-Ireland Minor Hurling title in impressive fashion following a four-point win over Kilkenny at Croke Park on Sunday.

Twenty-nine NUIG students have received sports scholarships this year.

The main provincial action of the past week concerned the various club competitions, two of which were decided at the weekend. All-Ireland 40x20 senior club champions Ballaghaderreen faced off St Coman’s in the provincial decider at Coman’s on Friday night last in a contest that went right down to the wire. Dessie Keegan opened proceedings for the Mayo side against Coman’s Chris Doolin and the duo played out two thrilling games. Keegan took the opener 21 aces to 18 but Doolin fought back to win the second 21-17 to give the host a one-point advantage. Vincent Moran teamed up with Stephen Cooney for the doubles leg and against Coman’s Ricky O’Gara and Niall McGrath. The normally reliable Moran and Cooney were far from their best against two reasonable if unspectacular ball players and the Mayo pair suffered defeat in both games on an overall 21-17, 21-15 scoreline to leave Ballaghaderreen 11 aces adrift going into the last singles. It was now up to Ballaghaderreen’s Joe McCann to rescue the situation as he took on Coman’s Damian Martin.