Walsh walks – Galway now begin search fora second inter-county manager

A second Galway senior supremo has surrendered his managerial passport . . . leaving county GAA officials working overtime to fill the vacant and high-profile Gaelic football and hurling posts over the coming weeks.
Just a fortnight after Micheál Donoghue stepped down as Galway hurling boss, Kevin Walsh has resigned as football manager after five years in the job.
The Killannin native and double All-Ireland medal winner has undoubtedly left Galway football in a better position than when he took up office despite an unrewarding summer gone by.
Two Connacht triumphs, a first All-Ireland semi-final appearance since 2001, and restoring the county’s Division One league status, were the high points of Walsh’s tenure, even if there was growing local disenchantment with the team’s defensive-orientated style.
Though the initial anticipation was that the former All-Star would opt to remain in charge, Walsh possibly felt he had reached the end of the line with the squad, while family factors also came into the equation.
Potential successors being touted are Galway U20 manager Padraic Joyce, UCD coach John Divilly – both former playing colleagues of Walsh – current minor boss Donal Ó Fátharta and Kevin O’Brien of Corofin.
Former Mayo supremo Stephen Rochford, also whispered as a potential successor, is believed to have already pledged his future to Donegal.