Murphy teams up with Kenny in bid for Galway job

Six-time All-Ireland winning minor hurling boss Mattie Murphy has joined the managerial ticket seeking to replace outgoing Galway senior manager Anthony Cunningham.

The battle to take hold of the bainisteoir’s bib is a two-horse race between former sideline colleagues Cunningham and Mattie Kenny.

Cunningham is seeking an extension to his three-year term, while Kenny is hoping to succeed the St Thomas’ man he worked alongside in 2012 and 2013.

“At this stage anything is possible,” a source close to the Cunningham camp said last night.

Meanwhile, All-Ireland U21 champions Clare have received 11 nominations for the Bord Gáis Energy team of the year.

Two members from the victorious Banner team are also shortlisted for the player of the year award. Colm Galvin has been nominated for a second successive year, his inclusion backboned by a superb final display in which he tallied four points from play.

Galvin is joined by teammate Aaron Cunningham, with Wexford full-forward Conor McDonald completing the line-up. Tony Kelly is a surprise omission from said shortlist. The Clare captain delivered a flawless final performance from centre-forward.

Five players named on the inaugural team of the year in 2013 are again in line to be honoured — Clare trio Seadhna Morey, Colm Galvin and Tony Kelly, Tipperary’s Jason Forde and Antrim’s Ciaran Clarke.

Defeated finalists Wexford picked up seven nominations, included in that are senior pair Liam Ryan and Jack Guiney.

Cork goalkeeper Patrick Collins and full-forward Alan Cadogan both feature on the list of 31 nominated players.

The team of the year awards will be broadcast live on TG4 from Croke Park on Saturday, October 11.

Goalkeepers: Patrick Collins (Cork), Keith Hogan (Clare), Oliver O’Leary (Wexford).

Full-backs: Tom Aylward (Kilkenny), Cathal Barrett (Tipperary), Jack Browne (Clare), Jack Hanrahan (Galway), Seadhna Morey (Clare), Liam Ryan (Wexford).

Half-backs: Conor Cleary (Clare), Andrew Kenny (Wexford), Dan Morrissey (Limerick), Gearoid O’Connell (Clare), Shane O’Gorman (Wexford), Jamie Shanahan (Clare).

Midfield: Conor Devitt (Wexford), Eoin Enright (Clare), Colm Galvin (Clare), Aidan Nolan (Wexford).

Half-forwards: Padraig Brehony (Galway), Colm Cronin (Dublin), Bobby Duggan (Clare), Johnny Glynn (Galway), Jack Guiney (Wexford), Tony Kelly (Clare).

Full-forwards: Alan Cadogan (Cork), Ciaran Clarke (Antrim), Aaron Cunningham (Clare), Jason Forde (Tipperary), Cathal Mannion (Galway), Conor McDonald (Wexford).