O’Neill is the new favourite as Mulqueen joins manager’s race

LOUIS Mulqueen is a late entry for the vacant Galway hurling manager’s post as the odds shorten on an ‘outsider’ winning the backing of the four-man committee tasked with finding a successor to Micheál Donoghue.

Mulqueen, the former Clare and Galway coach, has played a huge role in reviving the fortunes of city club Liam Mellows who are now preparing for a third consecutive county final.

But the smart money is on former Na Piarsaigh manager Shane O’Neill to land the high-profile Galway post . . . though the appearance of another candidate, fellow Limerick man Ciaran Carey, at last Sunday’s county semi-finals understandably set tongues wagging.

It appears that Clare’s Anthony Daly is no longer in serious reckoning as the confirmation of a new Galway manager may take until late next week.

Michael Larkin, John Fahey, Paul Bellew and Noel Lane will also be looking to include a couple of influential locals in any set up with a view towards managerial continuity down the road.