Heverin takes Salthill hot seat

Date Published: 16-Dec-2008

CITY CLUB Salthill-Knocknacarra have appointed former Portumna hurling manager, Jimmy Heverin, as manager of the club’s Senior Football team, Sentinel Sport can exclusively reveal. Heverin, who played with Salthill in the 1980s, will take over from outgoing senior manager PJ Kelly after Christmas and his backroom team will be put in place in the coming weeks.

The appointment of Heverin – a high-profile, well-respected Galway GAA figure who twice successfully steered Portumna to All-Ireland final success in 2006 and 2008 – will provide a welcome boost to the city club.

Salthill were knocked out of this year’s championship at the quarter-final stage by Cortoon Shamrocks and were also relegated from the top flight of the League in what was a disappointing season by their own standards.

They last won a senior county title in the 2005-2006 season when they went on to capture the All-Ireland Club Championship for the first time in Salthill’s history, on the day Heverin won his first with his native hurling club. Heverin resigned from Portumna on St. Patrick’s Day of this year.

When he was unsuccessful in his bid to replace Ger Loughnane as manager of the county hurling side in November, Heverin was approached by members of Salthill GAA who were anxious to get the Portumna native on board before…