The GAA want to scrap the U21 grade.
But we see no sense in getting rid of what year-on-year has provided some of the best GAA moments of the last decade.
It’s progress they say. It’s for the player’s health, but try telling that to the Mayo U21 management who today saw their side eek out a 1-15 to 1-4 win over Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final.
It’s for the player’s health, but try telling that to the Mayo U21 management who today saw their side eek out a 1-15 to 1-14 win over Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final.
There was no sense of burnout as both teams went at each other for a pulsating 60 minutes, with Mayo making the early strides before Dublin powered ahead in the second period.
Dublin have cut thru the middle a few times, unlucky not to goal, but Mayo defence and support is top quality. 1-6 to 0-2 after 28 mins
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) April 16, 2016
Ht and Mayo lead Dubs 1-7 to 0-4 in U21semi in Tullamore. Good game so far – remind us again why they want rid of this grade?
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) April 16, 2016
Game on in Tullamore after Con O Callaghan hits the net. Dublin have been close to that all afternoon. Dublin lead 1-10 to 1-8
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) April 16, 2016
Mayo’s Diarmuid O’Connor was rightly awarded man of the match, after he dominated the game from beginning to end, scoring a first half goal that Mikey Sheehy would be proud of, and then falling to the ground for the match winning free under illegal Dublin pressure.
Diarmuid O Connor has taken his game to another level this spring. Heroic leadership shown when Mayo desperately needed him in last few mins
— Christy O'Connor (@chrisocfl) April 16, 2016
But progress demands that the grade is scrapped.
Croke Park, knowing young men ‘s bodies better than themselves, are determined to rob the Mayo management team of Michael Solon and his selectors the chance to celebrate like giddy school children on the sideline at the joy of a one-point win.
Their mood is in stark contrast to that of a Dublin team shattered by defeat.
The agony and the ecstacy pic.twitter.com/nQgwlrHSAO
— Kevin Mc Gillicuddy (@KMcGillicuddy86) April 16, 2016
We will miss the U21 grade when it is gone.
But Mayo March on, to an All-Ireland final, after Conor Loftus showed nerves, or maybe even some other types anatomy of steel to steer over the match-winning free.
Conor Loftus the hero pic.twitter.com/eRfLyNde8Q
— Kevin Mc Gillicuddy (@KMcGillicuddy86) April 16, 2016
It is a real shame this grade has to go. We will all miss it. Players and managers more than anyone.
