Kernan’s appointment close to done deal

Date Published: 03-Sep-2009

FRONTRUNNER for the vacant Galway senior football manager’s job, Joe Kernan, says he can lead Galway to All-Ireland success.

The Crossmaglen man, who is now a dead-cert to succeed Liam Sammon as Galway boss, told Tribune Sport this week that the abundant talent of players available and the strong football tradition in the county, means winning the Sam Maguire Cup is “without a shadow of a doubt” something that can be achieved again in the next few years.

Kernan, who managed Armagh’s All-Ireland winning side of 2002, also revealed that when he was approached initially by officials from the Football Board, he was reluctant to take the post because of the long journey involved by car every week and for family reasons.

However, a hunger to get back into inter-county management at a top level and the opportunity to work with skilful players and officials in Galway “who seem driven and passionate about their football” persuaded him to throw his hat into the ring.

“I was approached by a couple of county teams but they didn’t really appeal to me. Then I spoke to people at the Salthill/Knocknacarra club when I was in Galway a few weeks ago and I also met with County Board officials and I just had a good gut-feeling about Galway.

“I did my time with Armagh and I decided maybe it was time for a new challenge and I decided not to go back. The feeling I got from Galway is great and the officials seem driven and passionate as well.

“Then Galway came in and I discussed it with my family and they all said ‘yes’ so I put my name forward. I have been officially nominated now and I have to wait and see. Transport (to Galway) was a stumbling block at the start because (I thought) car was the only way to get there. But Galway football is sponsored by Aer Arann and I’m just a 45-minutes drive from Dublin Airport and Galway Airport is only a few miles to the training facility at Loughgeorge, which looks amazing, and so I decided that travel wasn’t really an issue.

“My mother is from Ballinasloe and that had a bearing on my decision as well because I know that if I do get the job, I have a local connection and I know I’d be very welcome,” he said.

Asked if he…