Can Limerick foil Galway's back-to-back ambitions?

While their seniors will be up against it to claim the Liam McCarthy Cup later this afternoon, Galway's minor hurlers looked primed for success in their All-Ireland final joust with Limerick (Croke Park, throw-in 1.30pm).

Mattie Murphy's young guns are out to win the county's sixth All-Ireland at this grade in 13 years, and reclaim the Irish Press Cup they lifted in a replay win over Kilkenny, 12 months ago.

If they can carry the form which saw them whallop Munster champions Cork 4-13 to 1-9 in last month's semi-final then it should be within their grasp.

Murphy has made three changes, two in personnel. Loughrea's Francis Kerrigan has lost his place at midfield to Kevin Coen of Ballindereen.

Coen, who will partner captain Andrew Kilkenny in the centre, lined out in the half-forward line against Cork and that is where Murphy's two other switches are.

With Sean Glynn moving to the right flank to take Coen's wing forward berth, Craughwell ace Alan Callanan and Ardrahan's John Greene are new inclusions on the 40.

Six of the starting 15 from last year's All-Ireland final win are on Sunday's team: Paul Loughnane, John Hughes, Ciarán O'Donovan, Andrew Keary, Keith Kilkenny and Joe Canning.

Portumna full-forward Canning, younger brother of senior Ollie, and Conor Kavanagh, who scored 3-8 between them against the Rebels, will lead the Galway attack.

This is Limerick's first All-Ireland minor final appearance since 1984, and unheralded ground for Tim O'Connor's young side. They are the first Shannonside team since 1965 to line out in a minor decider at GAA headquarters.

They did manage a puck-around on the Croke Park pitch following last Sunday's All-Ireland senior football semi-final, but lining out in front of the guts of 82,300 spectators will be an altogether different scenario for the beaten Munster finalists.

They did well to beat Waterford and Tipperary in their own province before acounting for Antrim and Dublin. Much of their scoring falls upon the shoulders of free-taker Eoin Ryan.

O'Connor has made just one change from last month's 0-15 to 0-12 semi-final defeat of Dublin. Sean Browne replaces Richard McCarthy at right corner back.

GALWAY: J Skehell; A Leech, P Loughnane, P Callaghan; J Hughes, C O'Donovan, K Kilkenny; A Keary, K Coen; S Glynn, J Greene, A Callanan; C Kavanagh, J Canning, B Murphy.

LIMERICK: G Flynn; S Browne, L Hurley, T Condon; J Kelly, D Moloney, G O'Mahony; D Moore, S Hickey; D Hanley, J Ryan, B O'Sullivan; M Ryan, E Ryan, D O'Sullivan.

Referee: E Morris (Dublin)