Galway set for a unique finale

One of the last county finals of the year is reserved for the All-Ireland football champions, with Annaghdown and Killererin set to meet in Tuam this Sunday.

The unusual thing about that game, however, is the absence of any of the All-Ireland winning team in the Annaghdown line-up.

While Killererin - the winners of the title in 1999 - can boast some key members of John O'Mahony's panel, most notably Padraig and Tommy Joyce, Annaghdown is built upon the county's younger, more anonymous players. Yet, the club is no stranger to county finals.

Three titles in the 1980s went to Annaghdown (1982, '85, and '87), another back in 1931, and they were also on the losing side of the 1989 final. Then came a slump and a down period, finally put to bed a fortnight ago with a semi-final win over Killanin, the beaten finalists of last year.

"I suppose that result did surprise a few outsiders, but we're certainly confident going into it," says Frank Broderick, who worked as a coach with the club for several years before beginning to share the management responsibilities at the start of this year.

"We have been underdogs all through the championship this year, but we've met every challenge along the way and did it again for the semi-final. Preparations so far have gone very well, and though we have a few players who have been resting up this week because of minor injury, but there's no reason why any of them will be missing on Sunday."

Though Annaghdown is definitely a team based on youth, Broderick has total faith in their ability. "I suppose it would be a little bit unusual that we don't have any big inter-county names, but we do have several under-21 players on the team.

"We also have a lot of players who can perform at a high level. They all have great dedication to the game and I think our big strength is our unity. We do have great comradeship at the moment.

"Of course, our opposition have a number of well-documented players from the Galway team and we know they do pose a huge threat. But this team are ready to go in there and give it a real go."

Killanin were also built on some leading county figures such as Kevin Walsh, Gary and Richie Fahey, but the young Annaghdown side still prevailed. Particularly sparkling in that game was young centre back Ronan Leonard, closely followed by Damien Burke, Morgan, Matt Duggan and sub Michael Newell.

LOUTH (v Donegal) - NFL Play-Off (Sunday): C Nally; B Philips, D Shevlin, D Brennan; S Gerard, C Goss, J Neary; S O Hanlon, C Quinn; C Grimes, M Farrelly, M Stanfiel; D Reilly, O Mc Donnell, J P Rooney.

DONEGAL (v Louth) - G McGill; P McConigley, M Crossan, N McGinley; B Monaghan, K Browne, R Sweeney; P McGonigle, J Gildea; A Sweeney, M Hegarty, J Gallagher; J McCafferty, J McGuinness, B Devenney.