GALWAY hurling goalkeeper James Skehill defended under pressure manager Ger Loughnane yesterday, indicating that no official opinion has been put forward by the players regarding the Clare native's future.

"He is still the manager. (The Galway hurling board) had a meeting last week and nothing really came out of it. We don't even know what happened or what was said. Nothing was really put forward."

Loughnane's perceived criticism of his own players in the immediate aftermath of defeat to Cork last week - a result that prematurely ended Galway's campaign in a year that Loughnane had promised he would deliver an All-Ireland title - was also accepted by Skehill.

"He is Ger Loughnane so he brings an aura with him. All the responsibility cannot be put on him. It has to be put on us too. He said himself it was us who played the match and he is dead right.

"The players themselves have to go and look at themselves and pull together. The blame to me is 50- 50. If he is there again next year we will work hard for him - if not we will move on."

Skehill reiterated the long -standing players' view that Galway should enter the Leinster championship to ensure a more competitive build-up before the All-Ireland qualifier series.

The imbalance in the hurling championship format has been highlighted again this week by Cork and Waterford's progress to the All-Ireland semi-finals despite both teams losing earlier in the campaign. The Cork match was Galway's first defeat after facile wins over Antrim and Laois.

"I'm hoping the clubs do vote it in because if Galway are to make strides forward we have to go into the Leinster championship because the present format is not going to suit us. We just keep getting beaten by the bigger teams and then criticised for it."

Skehill was at the official launch of the under-21 hurling championship in Croke Park yesterday. The defending All-Ireland champions welcome back the senior goalkeeper for a fourth season (he is underage again in 2009) along with Joe Canning ahead of the semi-final against Leinster champions Kilkenny on August 23rd.

The winners of tomorrow's Munster final between Clare and Tipperary face the Ulster champions on the same date.