Galway minors set off on the road to retain All-Ireland title in Tullamore

STEPHEN GLENNON

ALL-Ireland minor hurling champions Galway will begin the defence of their title when they face Wexford in the quarter-finals of the competition at O’Connor Park, Tullamore on Saturday (1:30pm).As he has done so many times in the past, manager Mattie Murphy will look to work the oracle with the county’s U-18 side, although on this occasion, he must, by and large, do so with a new-look starting fifteen.

Indeed, there are just three survivors from the outfit that claimed All-Ireland honours in 2011 . . . but, in truth, they are three good ones – Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry’s Paul Killeen, Loughrea’s Sean Sweeney and Tommy Larkins’ Jason Flynn.

In all, there are 12 of last year’s panel available, including Clarinbridge’s Barry Keane, Kilconieron’s Shane Caulfield, Gort’s Michael Mullins, Cappataggle’s Darragh Dolan, Ahascragh/Fohenagh’s Cathal Mannion and Kilnadeema/Leitrim’s Brian Molloy.

Added to this, Murphy can call on some talented newcomers to the set-up, no more so than Turloughmore duo Sean Linnane and Richard Doyle, Killimordaly’s David Concannon and Loughrea’s Jamie Ryan.

Unfortunately, both Linnane (dead leg) and Concannon (ankle) are injury concerns heading into this one while livewire Ryan is also in a race to be fit after picking up a knock for Loughrea seniors in their championship clash against St. Thomas’ recently.

On paper, Murphy looks to have assembled an extremely gifted group of exponents but, from experience, the Turloughmore native will be the first to acknowledge that this does not always translate onto the field of play.

“We have been going alright, but you know yourself, it is a trip into the unknown,” begins the Galway manager. “We have a good few quality hurlers there, many of whom you would think will go on to play at a higher level.

“You know, though, the year you think you have a fair enough minor team, it might not work out while there are years when you think you have a middling enough team and they go on and win it. So, sometimes it can just come down to what’s there in front of you. It is not like the senior [grade] where you are putting a team together over time.”

There are few in the county – indeed, in the country – who have shown as an astute a hand as Murphy in nurturing promising young sides and one suspects 2012 should be no different. Again, though, he says: “You still have to produce it on the day.”

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.