Murphy the Tribe minor mastermind

MATTIE MURPHY has been synonymous with Galway underage success since first getting involved in inter-county management in 1989.

Manager for six of the county’s nine All-Ireland minor winning sides, he started his career by steering the Tribesmen’s U14s to a first ever Tony Forrestal victory.

Yesterday he added another minor title to the ones from 1992, 1994, 2004, 2005 and 2009 and further embellished his distinguished reputation.

In 1995, Mattie moved up the hurling ranks, taking hold of the Galway senior team and steered them to a national league in 1996.

Murphy’s sides have produced some big names for Galway hurling in recent years.

He was a central part in the development of Alan Kearns and Fergal Healy from the early ‘90s while Joe Canning, Niall Healy and John Lee were all involved in the winning sides during the noughties.