News: The chances of Ger Loughnane becoming the new Galway senior hurling manager increased last night when the sports injury specialist Ger Hartmann and the former Clare physio Colum Flynn agreed to come on board with their services.

Both men were closely tied with Loughnane when he led Clare to All-Ireland titles in 1995 and 1997. With the current Galway panel also backing Loughnane over the weekend, his appointment as successor to Conor Hayes seems inevitable.

"I've had discussions with Ger Loughnane on this," said Hartmann, "and I told him I'd endorse and roll in behind him in any way I can, with whatever components I can bring in beyond the physio side. I know he wants full autonomy on this, but my view is that if Loughnane is appointed I know he'll leave no stone unturned.

On Saturday, several highprofile Galway hurlers including Eugene Cloonan and Kevin Broderick worded a statement on behalf of the players that presented clear support for Loughnane: "The panel is behind Loughnane and we feel the whole county is in agreement that he's the right man for the job."

The Galway County Board are due to meet on Wednesday evening to discuss the nominees.