Clare to lift first title

Don't be at all surprised to hear Joe McDonagh, affectionately known as the GAA's singing president, burst into a rendition of his favourite hurling anthem, The West's Awake, on the dais of the Hogan Stand tomorrow. It would depend of course on Galway defeating Clare in the All-Ireland minor final.

Regulation posturing to indicate impartiality, demanded of him by the office he holds, may be difficult to observe if McDonagh's son, Eoin, climbs the steps to collect the Irish Press Cup as the victorious Galway captain.

There are conflicting factors which assert that both Galway and Clare have equal prospects of success in this unique final pairing; Clare were the more convincing of the semi-final winners. They beat Kilkenny in style, putting the disappointment of an unlucky defeat by Tipperary in the Munster final behind them to score a Mark Lennon-inspired 0-13 to 1-7 win.

Galway snatched victory from the rapidly closing jaws of defeat against Tipperary in the second semi-final, scoring a jaw dropping seven points in the last few minutes for the most dramatic win of the season. Still, the Galway boys hold a huge psychological advantage over their Clare rivals as a result of consistently winning matches between what have been basically the same sides from the under-14 grade onwards.

Indeed, Galway have remained unbeaten against their Munster rivals throughout this under age learning process.

Galway, despite being denied a match within their province, have benefited, albeit via a different route, from the new championship format.

Getting a quarter-final match against Leinster losers, Offaly was welcomed and well utilised. "We are better prepared this year than previously and have no reason to fear Clare," says team manager John Fahey.

Fahey and co-selectors Niall McInerney and Joe Hayes were convinced of what would be their best final team from the moment Tipperary were beaten. With the exception of debutant midfielder Joe Hession, the side is the same as that which finished on such a high note against a disenchanted Tipperary.

Cathal Coen, Ollie Deeley and David Donoghue, the three substitutes who uplifted Galway's semifinal bid, are poised to cause problems for the Clare defence. With Garry Hurney also gaining recognition on the left wing of attack, only David Tierney and Keith Hayes, now sited at full forward, remain of the attack that started against Tipperary.

Clare make two changes from the side that accounted for Kilkenny by 0-13 to 1-7 in the semi-final. Danny Duggan of O'Callaghan's Mills, who came on as a substitute to replace left corner back Paul Collins in the semi-final, retains the position.

Joe O'Meara, replaced at left wing forward against Kilkenny by Eric Minogue, is now replaced by Patrick Moroney of Scariff in a reshuffled half forward line, with Colm Mullin moving to the left to accommodate Moroney on the right.

Galway can only hope that they can continue from where they left off against Tipperary. Clare's general strength however, is expected to give them the edge to achieve their first All-Ireland title in the grade.