Lynskey: 'Our remit is developing players'
Galway minor hurling manager Jeffrey Lynskey.
By Cian O'Connell
Jeffrey Lynskey knows all about Galway’s recent history at minor level. Nine All Ireland titles have been registered at the grade since 1992.
The highly regarded Liam Mellows man, though, is keen to stress that his approach is focused on developing players for the future.
That is Lynskey’s brief. Within minutes of winning last year’s minor title Lynskey spoke with passion and clarity about the subject.
Eleven months later Lynskey’s views on the issue haven’t altered in the slightest. “During the past 20 years there has been huge expectation attached to Galway minor teams, but we don’t dwell on that,” Lynskey told GAA.ie.
“For me our remit is developing players. That is what we want to do. I would see this as the start of something more than anything else. Regardless of the result on Sunday, whether we win or lose, you want to make sure these guys keep on performing.
“Five years from now you want to be seeing these guys performing for Galway. I think maybe people can get caught up looking for something straightaway, but my belief would be very much about focusing on development.”
Watching how Kilkenny have filtered talented performers through to their senior set-up is something that has caught Lynskey’s attention. “It is strange because our county in the last 20 years have won more than even Kilkenny at minor level. That means there is an expectation, but for me and the management team we have we would be very much respectful of the template they’ve used.
“Sometimes guys in Kilkenny have to wait four or five years to get a chance with the senior team. Lads serve their apprenticeship. They all seem willing to do that and they are developed well.”
Against Antrim in the quarter-finals Galway started with 10 of the victorious 2015 panel, but Lynskey hopes they can continue to make progress.
“The maturing process of the lads is important,” Lynskey remarked. “We’ve some physically big and strong lads, but being realistic they still wouldn’t survive at senior level yet. They need to realise what they want and some guys do that very young.
“It is different to being involved with a club team because they are all hugely committed. Lads who aren’t behaving themselves are released back to clubs until they are ready to do what is required. For us we are just focused on performing and improving constantly.
“The objective is to win and to perform on Sunday. We have played Antrim already and that went okay for us, but by 3 o clock on Sunday we will know exactly where we stand.”
