Fergal Healy hopes that the extra games which the Galway minor hurlers have played this year will help players to make the transition to U20 and senior levels.
On Sunday, Galway will play Clare in the Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship final at Semple Stadium. The game will be Galway's seventh of the season, a benefit of them being in the Leinster Championship for the first time.
"We've had two weeks since the semi-final," Healy told Galway Bay FM.
"We've enjoyed the two weeks. We've had a bit of a break. It was intense enough for a few weeks.
"It gave us a bit of time there to work on a few things and get a few tougher sessions done last week. This week, it's about winding down and fine-tuning for Sunday.
"It is our seventh game, which is probably the most important thing in all of this. This is a development age for all these guys. No more than the Leinster final, when you're in the final, you want to win it. That's going to be the aim for Sunday.
"The forecast is promised good. We've been on to them about hydrating and staying in out of the sun. A lot of these guys are TY's and they're finished school. It's about managing themselves. They spend most of their time away from us. You're just trying to direct them in the right way to prepare for the week.
"Overall, in the season, for the lads to be able to play seven games, to prepare for the game as the seniors do is great for their experience and should stand to them for the coming seasons.
20 May 2023; Aaron Niland of Galway in action against Cillian O'Callaghan of Cork during the Electric Ireland GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship Semi-Final match between Galway and Cork at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile
"Ultimately, it's going to come down to them as individuals as well. In Galway, we have that question about why aren't we getting more lads through.
"It's something that the likes of these extra games should help them. The same as the U20s. We're all getting round robin games now. Hopefully, those games will bring these guys on a little bit quicker, a little bit sooner and get them ready for senior.
"We said it to them [as they finished training], they have to enjoy the week, they have to enjoy the game, and don't be too focused on the result - focus on the performance and the result will look after itself.
"Ultimately, for these guys, it's about development and this is only the start of the rung."
Healy said the Clare side which they face is "a very good team, a strong team".
"We've seen them a good few times," said Healy.
"They dealt with Cork fairly comfortably in the Munster final. They were impressive enough against Kilkenny in the semi-final. They are a really strong, physical team. They play with a lot of energy. It's going to be a tough test for us."
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