EAMONN FITZMAURICE HOPES his half-back experiment will give Paul Galvin a new lease of life.

The Kerry veteran made his first appearance of 2014 as a substitute in the McGrath Cup semi-final .

But instead of slotting in to his usual role in the half-forwards, Galvin lined out at centre back when he came on last weekend.

After losing Eoin Brosnan and Tomás Ó Sé to retirement in the off-season, Fitzmaurice plans to use the pre-season games and the league to scrutinise his alternatives.

“We’re experimental at the moment and trying out different things,” he said.

“We tried Mikey Geaney, normally a forward, at wing-back last week. We’re also having a look at Paul in the half-back line.

It’s a thing we’ll probably look at it in the league. We experimented it occasionally in training last year but this is the first time we can do it in games.

Galvin is on the bench for Sunday’s McGrath Cup final against Cork as Peter Crowley comes in to join Geaney and Jack Sherwood in the half-backs.

“It’s a position I know he can play well in,” said Fitzmaurice, who played alongside Galvin in the half-backs during UCC’s Munster club championship win in 1999.

“It’ll give Paul something new to do as well this year. It’ll take very little football for him to get up to speed in the half-forward line if he goes back to there.

“For now the half-back line is something I think he’ll enjoy in the short term.”

Two changes for Kerry ahead of McGrath Cup final