Galway obstacle to Limerick minor progress

LIFE after Mattie Murphy begins for the Galway minors this Sunday.

The 15-point loss to Limerick last August in the All Ireland semi final ended Murphy’s long and successful stint at the helm of the Tribesman teenagers.

Murphy led Galway to six All Ireland minor titles between 1992 and 2011.

Last December, Galway appointed Geoff Lynskey as their new minor manager.

Last year he served as U-17 manager.

His selectors are Gavin Keary and Shane Cusack (both Loughrea), Eugene McEntee (Portumna) and John Commins (Gort).

The new management team can call upon just one member of the team that lost to Limerick last year - Jack Grealish. Only two further members of the extended panel are still eligible.

Grealish was corner forward last year but expected to be midfield in Thurles on Sunday.

It’s a Galway set-up backboned by nine members of the Presentation College Athenry team that narrowly failed to champions St Kierans College in the All Ireland Post Primary School semi final.

After a season that started on April 5, over three months later Limerick play their fifth competitive game this Sunday but for Galway its their seasonal debut.

A further complication for Galway ahead of Sunday is that they have two dual players - Caelan Mulry and Cillian McDaid - who are set to play in the Connacht MFC final replay this Friday evening against Sligo in Tuam.

Sunday’s Limerick and Galway minor clash is the first of a triple header in Thurles.

In the All Ireland SHC quarter final double-bill, Waterford play Dublin at 2.00 with Cork and Galway playing at 4.00.