Since the Connacht U21 football championship started in 1964, Galway and Sligo have only ever met in one provincial final, before the sides clash on Saturday at 6pm in Markiewicz Park for the last ever final at the grade. The year was 1979 and Galway went into the game as underdogs against a strong Sligo outfit playing at home in Tubbercurry, but emerged victorious on a windy day to take the honours by 0-12 to 0-9. Galway's star player was Gay McManus from Milltown, who scored 0-7 on the day and was easily the most influential player on view, while other familiar names that would go on to play in an All Ireland Senior final 4 years later included Richie Lee, Barry Brennan and Brian O'Donnell.
The Galway team that won the Connacht title in 1979 was:
- Brian Noone (Corofin)
- Joe Kelly (Tuam Stars)
- Ollie Burke (Corofin)
- Ciaran O'Fathartha (Leitir Mór)
- Kevin Mitchell (Ballinasloe)
- Robert Bermingham (Milltown)
- Seamus Glynn (Caherlistrane)
- Richie Lee (Moycullen)
- Leo Higgins (Corofin)
- Barry Brennan (Ballinasloe)
- Sean Forde (Kinvara)
- Padraig Conroy (Leitir Mór)
- Kieran O'Sullivan (Oughterard)
- Gay McManus (Milltown)
- Brian O'Donnell (Mervue)
In the semi final, Galway beat Leitrim 4-12 to 2-6 with Frank Rooney starting in the forward line in place of Barry Brennan and Mattie Coleman coming on as a sub for Robert Bermingham. Galway lost the All Ireland semi final to eventual champions Down in Newry by 0-11 to 0-9.
