Its all on the one balance sheet Lazā¦
Walsh will get as much as Daly from the County board. Pat McDonagh may have his own ideas thoughā¦
Excellent piece from Cyril here, would be in broad agreement with all of it
[SIZE=6]Cyril Farrell: Cunningham doesnāt deserve to be treated so poorly[/SIZE]
http://cdn1.independent.ie/incoming/article30547839.ece/d7212/ALTERNATES/h342/cunn.jpg
Anthony Cunningham should either have been re-appointed weeks ago or told that he was out. Ray Ryan / SPORTSFILE
I know what I would do if I were Anthony Cunningham. I would say to the Galway Hurling Board; ānice knowing you lads - Iām off.ā
So whatās the hurry? Clearly there isnāt one as far as the Board is concerned, but things should be moving a lot quicker.
Cunningham completed his three-year term this season and is obviously interested in continuing. Itās for others to decide whether or not he will, bit for Godās sake, do it.
The old-fashioned system of asking for nominations from clubs still applies in Galway but itās comical altogether this year because the outgoing manager is keen to continue. So, in effect, he has to be nominated in the same way as any other candidate.
It doesnāt end there. The Board retains the right to nominate someone who hasnāt been suggested by the clubs, most likely an outsider. Thatās saying to Cunningham and the other internal candidates that if the Board isnāt satisfied with them, they can look elsewhere. Itās not exactly a vote of confidence in the local lads.
Cunningham should either have been re-appointed weeks ago or told that he was out. Instead, the Board are saying: āAnthony, weāre happy to have your name in the hat, but if we get anyone who we consider better, then bye-bye and good luck.ā
Unfair
Thatās downright unfair on Cunningham, who has done his utmost over the past three years. Iāve been critical of some of his decisions, just as Iām sure he would question somebody else if they were in charge, but once itās done in a constructive manner, thereās no problem.
I wrote the week after Galway lost to Tipperary that I thought Cunningham should be given another year. As events transpired, with Kilkenny and Tipperary - the two teams that beat Galway - reaching the All-Ireland final, it made his position stronger.
He should not be left in limbo for so long. Sack him or back him but donāt insult him by going through a process thatās giving the clear impression they if somebody considered better comes along, Cunningham will be dropped. And if he is re-appointed, will he have the respect of the players when the Board dithered for so long?
Cork chairman, Bob Ryan, stated straight away after the semi-final defeat by Tipperary that they wanted Jimmy Barry-Murphy to stay on. No doubts, no equivocation, just a clear statement of support. At least JBM knows where he stands.
So where do the leadership of the Galway Hurling Board stand in relation to Cunningham? Are they for him or against him? Isnāt that what leadership is about? Heās entitled to know after giving such outstanding service to Galway since the day he came into the minor squad in 1983.
Itās one of a few leadership issues that concern me. It extends beyond the Hurling Board and into the County Board, because they deal with Leinster and Croke Park.
Why on earth are Galway minors and U-21s not playing in the Leinster championship? Antrim too, for that matter, but thatās their concern. Galway seniors finished their sixth season in Leinster this year, yet there isnāt a word about the minors and seniors following them.
Instead, Galway remains stuck with the old system, waiting for Munster and Leinster to complete their championship before joining in. The fact that Galway have done well at minor and U-21 level over the years is being used as an excuse to retain the status quo. In fact, there are those in Galway who would withdraw the seniors from Leinster too.
Galway U-21s lost to Wexford last Saturday, but would it have been different if that wasnāt their first game? Would Galway not have been better off playing in Leinster, getting games in the early rounds like everyone else? The same goes for the minors.
And hereās a thing. Galway might not have won as many U-21 or minor titles over the years if they were in Leinster but it might actually have served the senior set-up better.
Of course, the word is that Leinster counties donāt want Galway at underage level. If thatās true, then itās a Croke Park problem. If the system wants Galway seniors in Leinster, it canāt reject the underage teams.
Again, itās up to Galway to demand inclusion in Leinster, instead of tipping away in isolation. And if Leinster donāt want the underage teams, then the seniors should threaten to withdraw and make it a Croke Park concern for the All-Ireland championship.
Also, it has also been suggested that the view among Leinster counties is āTullamore and no furtherā when it comes to playing Galway in the championship. Again, if thatās true and nobody is prepared to enter into a āhomeā and āawayā arrangement with Galway, then itās a national issue.
You either have full integration or nothing and if Galway are playing in Leinster, they have to be treated the same as the rest, which means some home games. Again, itās up to Galway to ask questions, try to make things happen and, if theyāre rejected, then make it a matter for Croke Park. In other words, stand up and fight your corner.
The big thing Galway hurling needs is real leadership all the way to County Board level. Muddling along is not good enough.
As I was collecting a few bales of straw yesterday evening from a man āin the knowā on Galway hurling told me that Daly was nailed on for it.
At lunchtime I was in a sports shop in Oranmore and the latest I heard is that Daly is not being considered. I see some lad over on the Galway hurling forum with the same story.
I assume its a financial blocker. Unless Pat McDonagh or the Comer brothers etc come to the rescue then I cant see Daly getting the job.
iād say the fella selling the hay is in the know alright, always follow the money
Thats the thing Kidā¦ there is no money to follow
Daily on his way but what is the feelinng in galaway about him?
I am hoping his infectious charisma will heal the weeping wounds of Galway hurling Joe.
Galway have always performed better when there is a clareman at the helm teaching them how to hurl
Thomasās beaten by Pearses in relegation game this eveningā¦ putting themselves under severe pressure for remaining games.
Whatās happened to them?
Carnmore are conceding cricket scores this year
Any word on this? If we wait much longer we can start using it as excuse for 2015. āThe uncertainty over the management team effected the team in the build up to the championshipā
The media would lead one to assume that its between Kenny and Cunningham at this stageā¦
Is Kevin Walsh getting the football gig ?
[QUOTE=āKinvaraās Passion, post: 1018029, member: 686ā]The media would lead one to assume that its between Kenny and Cunningham at this stageā¦
Kenny Cunningham would be a high risk, high reward appointment.
Yeah. It will be confirmed at at the next board meeting Monday week. I can also reveal exclusively that Cunningham will get another year
Would he be a popular choice? Seems a good fit IMO considering the young talent available.
He was the only realistic candidate really, the Tuam crowd would probably have wanted someone from that general area but no one came close to having both the credentials and the gravitas of Walsh. As a bone fide Galway legend heāll have the backing of everyone but heāll be under pressure from the off. People are beginning to feel good about our football team again and anything less than a Connacht title or an All Ireland semi final would be considered a failure next year
That is a mental expectation, not unachievable mind but totally mental all the same.
Why so? To be honest thereās a core of football heads who expect to be competing for All Irelands every year. The expectations mentioned above are more from the realistic followers