Micheál Donoghue is on his way back to Galway. On Thursday the county management committee recommended the 2017 All-Ireland hurling winning manager for a four-year term – to be ratified at next Monday’s county committee meeting.
Donoghue, who guided his county to first Liam MacCarthy Cup in 29 years, seven seasons ago, had been managing Dublin for the past two years but unexpectedly stepped down with a year still to run on that appointment.
Noel Larkin and Francis Forde have been ever-presents in his back-room team in both of his intercounty appointments to date and it is expected that they will play a role in his second tour of duty with Galway.
He succeeds Henry Shefflin, who resigned his position earlier in the summer after a disastrous championship. It was no secret that Donoghue left Galway in 2019, unhappy at his dealings with the county administration – misgivings that have clearly been resolved.
Seán Moran: GAA trying to bend century-old competitions into modern structures
Hurling league final between Cork and Tipperary sold out
Ulster Council confirm Antrim v Armagh clash will be played at Corrigan Park
Maurice Deegan: When the pitches dry out, fast, kicking teams will open up defences for fun
The new management’s coaches and selectors have yet to be appointed and it will be interesting to see if former All-Ireland winning Tipperary coach Eamon O’Shea, who joined Shefflin’s management team last year, will be involved. O’Shea worked with Donoghue when the latter was involved with Tipperary a decade ago.
The statement from Galway GAA:
“The management committee of Galway GAA is delighted to recommend the appointment of Micheál Donoghue as the Galway senior hurling manager.
“Micheál and his management team will be put forward for a four-year term at Monday night’s county committee meeting. We look forward to working closely with Micheál and the management team and wish them all the very best in the years ahead.”
