Mulholland beefs up football management team

 GALWAY senior football manager Alan Mulholland, who has been ratified for a two-year term with another review at the end of  2014, has beefed up his backroom team.

Mulholland, who has served two years at the helm already, has brought in the expertise of Paul Clancy, Declan Meehan, Liam Sammon and Brian Talty.

The re-appointment of the Salthill/Knocknacarra clubman was rubberstamped on Monday at the County Board meeting following a recommendation arising from the previous Thursday’s Football Committee meeting.

Alan Flynn has been given a three-year term as U21 manager, with an annual review. Flynn, who guided the Galway U21s to All-Ireland success in 2013, found that role very time consuming and had requested more time with the U21s next year. He has stepped aside as senior selector but will still be a ‘link’ between U21 and senior, and be involved in some capacity with the senior set-up. 

Donal Ó Fátharta, who along with Flynn was a senior selector for the past two seasons, stepped aside for personal reasons. Ó Fátharta, who has been with Mulholland since 2006, opted to step-aside but he will be kept on board in an unofficial advisory capacity.

The two U21 selectors last season, former All-Ireland winners Paul Clancy (Moycullen) and Declan Meehan (Caltra) have been promoted to senior selectors this coming year.

Mulholland said Clancy and Meehan were a huge asset to the senior squad because they are familiar with the younger players coming through having been selectors at U21 in 2013, and they have incredible experience as past county players. Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune.