Donoghue and Kenny frontrunners for job as Cunningham succumbs to player revolt

Bookmakers John Mulholland’s were forced to close their book on the betting for the next Galway senior hurling manager after the first 37 bets they received were on former All-Ireland winning Clarinbridge club boss Micheal Donoghue succeeding Anthony Cunningham who stepped down earlier this week.

Donoghue, who managed his native Clarinbridge to All-Ireland club glory on St Patrick’s Day 2011, had been 9/4 with the bookmakers in the brief period they had open the betting, with former Galway coach Mattie Kenny, currently hitting the headlines with Dublin outfit Cuala, favourite at 7/4.

However, with the cash flooding in on Donoghue, Mulholland’s were forced to quickly close their ledger on the next appointment before posting a tweet which ended: “#some1knows #bookclosed”.

While Donoghue and Kenny remain the frontrunners for the position in the eyes of the hurling fraternity, other names will surely come into the reckoning – no more so than former Clare and Dublin manager Anthony Daly, who has been linked with such a move previously.

The Galway GAA management committee is due to meet tonight (Thursday) to discuss the impending process of finding a new senior hurling manager while also reflecting on the events of the past few days which saw Cunningham stand down from the post after four years last Monday evening.

Cunningham, the subject of a players’ revolt, issued a statement announcing his resignation, highlighting that this was despite the fact he had been “unanimously ratified and supported by the Galway GAA Clubs, the County Hurling and Galway County Committees”.

He said he did so in the best interests of Galway hurling and was disappointed that no solution had been found to the impasse, including extensive attempts at genuine dialogue with the players through a process of independent arbitration.

“There were no reasonable explanations offered or given as to the issues that players felt they had,” continued Cunningham. “I believe that the players are misguided in that they are not taking the views of their county on board.

“They, through their actions, have shown scant respect for, and loyalty to the goodwill shown them by supporters, clubs and County GAA Committees and Management. I contend it is unreasonable to express a lack of confidence in management – how else could we have reached a winning position in an All-Ireland final last September?” he asked.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.