Galway Under-21 captain Fiontán Ó Curraoin craves more success

Most people wear flat canvas shoes as a fashion statement, or else to make their height more indistinguishable – and Fiontán Ó Curraoin is surely more motivated by the latter.

Because Ó Curraoin showed up at the Cadbury Under-21 football captain’s call to talk up Galway’s prospects wearing a pair of pale white Converse, and a towering enough presence already, that at least meant he wasn’t looking quite as far down on us.

When fully kitted out in studded boots his height must be truly daunting, and Ó Curraoin's presence at midfield in the Galway team certainly helps explain their progress to Saturday's All-Ireland showdown against Cork: one of three survivors from Galway's Under-21 success of two years ago, it thus marks his second final in three years, and he was typically influential in the semi-final win over a hotly-fancied Kildare.

“Coming out of minor, you’re only 18, and it was brilliant to get to that final and win it,” says Ó Curraoin, of his first taste of All-Ireland under-21 success.

“But this probably means a bit more now, just to be with more of the lads you grew up with, and played with through the years.”

Thrilling comeback
Yet Galway haven't had it easy to get this far, nor will they against Cork on Saturday: their Connacht final with Roscommon provided one of the highlights of the championship as they came back to win in extra-time, after trailing by three points with five minutes remaining – and then came an equally supreme effort to beat Kildare by five points, helping surely by the fact the Leinster champions hit 19 wides in total.

“Well we knew that they (Kildare) were going to be big, and that our backs wouldn’t be the biggest. But we just kept pushing towards the end, and knew that if we got through 40 minutes or so that we could do what we did against Roscommon.”

Galway's Under-21 management team of Alan Flynn, Declan Meehan, Paul Clancy, and Donal O Flatharta – plus the input of Galway senior manager Alan Mulholland – have been getting the very best of the panel, as Ó Curraoin openly confirms.

“There was a lot of talk about Kildare beforehand but it was kind of similar when we played Cork two years ago. Nobody gave us a chance whatsoever and then we went down to Ennis and beat them. We kind of looked at that. We knew we were capable. Alan (Flynn) and the lads knew we were capable so we just kind of believed in ourselves the whole 60 minutes.

“And I’ve been asked that a couple of times about the number of wides Kildare hit but I give credit to our backs because Kildare were probably shooting from angles that they weren’t comfortable with. We had four or five blocks alone in the first half and when you get a block like that it really drives you on.”

Ó Curraoin also singles out the input of Meehan and Clancy, particularly when it comes to match day: "Two legends really, to have involved, like, you know. They've really brought their experience, tried to transfer it to us, as much as they can.

Inspirational words
"And it's really working. At half-time, during the game, it's brilliant for them to give the few words, drive you on."

That semi-final win over Kildare was also notable for the goal from Tomás Flynn, another survivor of the 2011 success (along with then substitute goalkeeper Tomás Healy), but who was in danger of missing their 2013 campaign as he recovered from a knee injury

Connacht final
"Yeah, it was brilliant to see Tomás come on in the Connacht final. We were down a bit and he came on and pushed us on. He was out for nine months and to come on and do that was a real credit."

Finally, Ó Curraoin gives credit for the balance between under-21 commitments, which he hopes that – win or lose in the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday evening – will help ensure an easier transition for everyone to the senior grade.

“That’s two finals in three years, and there’s a real sense that this team isn’t finished, even after Saturday. We’ve played together minor, under-16, and there’s a bunch there that can push on, take a lot from the team of two years ago.

“Hopefully we can translate that success. There are three of us under-21s, at the moment, with the senior, but it will be interesting to see what happens after the weekend. Hopefully, if we win, the seniors can take something from this. And give us a bit more drive going into the Mayo game in the senior championship.”