Time to move on as Galway face big challenges ahead

Inside Track with John McIntyre

WHEN Galway hurlers held an unflattering three points half-time lead over Kilkenny in last September’s All-Ireland final, surely the last thing on the minds of Micheál Donoghue, Francis Forde and Noel Larkin was that they would be running the Tribesmen’s sideline for the team’s first game of 2016 just four months later.

But a turbulent off-the-field period after Galway’s second-half collapse against the reigning champions ultimately led to outgoing manager Anthony Cunningham’s departure from a post he had served in for four years. The St. Thomas’ clubman didn’t go willingly after an unexpected heave by the players put his position in jeopardy.

For several weeks a stalemate situation prevailed. Even a mediator was brought in to try and find a compromise, but the Galway hurlers weren’t for budging and whether or not you agree with their stand, you’d have to admire their sense of unity in a pressurised environment. All the time, some ridiculous rumours were flying around the place and it was a challenging time for everybody concerned.

Naturally, there are fears that the controversy will leave a legacy of bad blood and that Galway’s flagship team have done themselves no favours in trying to rally support behind them. Undoubtedly, the players have left themselves a hostage to fortune over the coming months and some knives will be out if they fail to push on under the new management.

Unfortunately, for Galway to go that big step further in 2016, they have to win the All-Ireland title. Getting to the final for the second time in four years under Cunningham was a notable achievement, but clearly the panel want more and they had the guts and balls in taking a largely unpopular position against their team boss. They had serious issues with Cunningham’s management and also believed strongly that a new set up was required to finally lead them to the Promised Land.

It was a brave move and only time will tell whether or not it was more their own inadequacies on the pitch in the second half against Kilkenny rather than any failure of management which accounted for that limp final 35 minutes at Croke Park. Against a background where Galway squads don’t have a reputation for revolting against team managements, the senior hurlers have certainly nailed their colours to the mast.

For all that, Donoghue’s appointment has been well received. He was a stylish and influential centre back on the historic championship wining Clarinbridge team of 2001 that I was involved with and the manner in which he led the club to that breathtaking triumph in the All-Ireland club final in March of 2011 is still fresh in the memory. He subsequently put a shape on Turloughmore with the highlight being a rousing quarter-final win over Portumna.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.