Lynskey hopes young Tribe can prosper in seniors' shadow

Back in 1994, he was part of Mattie Murphy's Galway minor side and this year he will patrol the sideline as he looks to keep up the county's extraordinary record of All-Ireland wins at the grade.

He'll be in touch with his former mentor Murphy this week but Lynskey is very much his own man. There's the pressure of having big shoes to fill at Croke Park but it's not real-world pressure. Teaching in a disadvantaged school has taught him that.

"I come from a teaching environment, I work in a DEIS school and that is a pressurised environment," Lynskey explained.

"This is not the same level of pressure at all. Real-life stuff is in school with kids and parents and everything else and outside agencies. That is real pressure."

His concern this week lies mainly with his players. The return to school comes at the right time for them and helps keep their minds off what will be the biggest day of their lives when they break out onto the Croke Park sod on Sunday to face Tipperary.

Concern

That the seniors are in the All-Ireland final provides further cover. This time the hopes of the county on All-Ireland final day don't rest solely on teenage shoulders.

"Most of the focus in the seniors at this stage rather than us. We are training away ourselves and it is nice and quiet so we are not in the cauldron the seniors are in at present."

Tipp have a handful of dual players that will have one eye on the All-Ireland minor football final and Lynskey admits Galway's cause is helped by the fact their players generally play just one code.

"It's very clear-cut. There is no miscommunication and no mixed messages. It's very difficult for them (Tipp).

"They played on a Sunday and again the following Sunday (in a different code). It's probably ok to do it at minor but after that the way the modern game has gone it is too taxing and too pressurised."

There was good news for Galway as Jack Grealish has been edging towards fitness. A combination of reflexology and acupuncture has helped him along the way.

"If you had told me two weeks ago he'd be ready but in the space of a week he has improved," Lynskey said. "Tipp are a good side that have good individual hurlers and a good spirit.

"They wouldn't be there otherwise, they won Munster and it is going to be another ferocious test on Sunday."