Ger Loughnane imithe

Agus

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/gaa/2008/1013/1223921126592.htmlLoughnane sacked as Galway manager

GAA : Ger Loughnane was sacked as Galway senior hurling manager this evening when the county board delegates voted 28 to 26 against the Clare man staying on after two years in the post.
The meeting took place at the Raheen Woods Hotel in Athenry but Loughnane was not present to learn his fate firsthand.
Loughnane was on a three-year term with the Tribesmen but he sensationally said when first appointed to the role that he would walk away after two years if he failed to deliver Galway's first All-Ireland title.
He then suggested he might step down after this year's championship loss to Cork but U-turned and made it clear he wished to stay on.
Delegates and officers decided to hold the ratification process by secret vote and county board officers Frank Larkin, Bernie O'Connor and Michael Monaghan could be seen recounting the votes several times given how tight the outcome was.
Galway will begin the process of finding Loughnane's replacement with Michael Bond, who led Offaly to All-Ireland success in 1998, declaring his interest in a team that includes Joe Cooney, Michael Coleman and Steve Mahon.
Jimmy Heverin, who has led Portumna to two All-Ireland club titles in the past three years, has teamed up with former Galway hurler Anthony Cunningham as part of an alternative team.
© 2008 The Irish Times

Erin Go Brath

28-26 was a close vote. Loughnane is the kind of divisive 'love him or hate him' kind of guy. I'm not too surprised he got voted out as i'm sure he ruffled a few feathers in his tenure. He did say he would walk away after two years if he failed to deliver Galway's first All-Ireland title. He was only setting himself up for a fall with that kind of talk.

CyberDave

He didn't walk away, he was shown the door. He would have gladly stayed another year if it had been offered. He was in Athenry at the Portumna/Liam Mellowes county semi-final last Sunday, so that was an sample of his intent. His term in charge of Galway has damaged his reputation. Also, I expect to see him return to his Sunday Game and Star positions next year and will probably slate Galway for not having the bottle to make any progress in the championship.

evil-monkey

sure he can always site back to the glory days of 95...as he has been doing since...sure we don't we all know the history of hurling started and ended with the All-Ireland final of 1995...

Deedsie

evil-monkey wrote: »

sure he can always site back to the glory days of 95...as he has been doing since...sure we don't we all know the history of hurling started and ended with the All-Ireland final of 1995...

What about 97? In Fairness to him, he took over the reigns of a team Len Gaynor pulled together and won two All Irelands with them.

Yavvy

Silly decision imo.. should have been given a craic at the new format I think Galway were a bit rash in letting him go

CyberDave

I am still undecided on whether or not he should have been retained. The new format will help Galway, but as we can see from the vote there is too much rivalry within the county and this is probably one of the reasons why we can't be successful at senior inter county level. It's more than a managerial problem. The same failing which Loughnane cited himself before he took the job, not enough hard physical ball winning players (like Keady, Finnerty, Lynskey, Coleman). He knows now why they were not on Galway teams in the recent past, there are none. Most of the Galway panel are the same type of player, great technical ability and speed but better at feeding off loose ball than winning their own. There are far more options for Galway in the wing-forward and corner-forward positions than in the full-forward and centre-forward positions. Loughnane came with the intention of instilling this hardness and ball winning ability in Galway, something you can't really add to a player, he either has it or he doesn't.

premierstone

CyberDave wrote: »

I am still undecided on whether or not he should have been retained. The new format will help Galway, but as we can see from the vote there is too much rivalry within the county and this is probably one of the reasons why we can't be successful at senior inter county level. It's more than a managerial problem. The same failing which Loughnane cited himself before he took the job, not enough hard physical ball winning players (like Keady, Finnerty, Lynskey, Coleman). He knows now why they were not on Galway teams in the recent past, there are none. Most of the Galway panel are the same type of player, great technical ability and speed but better at feeding off loose ball than winning their own. There are far more options for Galway in the wing-forward and corner-forward positions than in the full-forward and centre-forward positions. Loughnane came with the intention of instilling this hardness and ball winning ability in Galway, something you can't really add to a player, he either has it or he doesn't.

+1 You've pretty much hit the nail on the head there Cyber i thought for a while John Lee was going to be one of these type players that they need but he's development seems to have halted somewhat - no full back, no goalkeeper, no midfield, no centreforward if they could even sort two of these positions they would be well on their way.

CyberDave

premierstone wrote: »

+1 You've pretty much hit the nail on the head there Cyber i thought for a while John Lee was going to be one of these type players that they need but he's development seems to have halted somewhat - no full back, no goalkeeper, no midfield, no centreforward if they could even sort two of these positions they would be well on their way.

Lee seems to have halted a bit alright. Loughrea are in the county semi-final again this weekend. If they beat Gort they are through to the final for a rematch of the 2006 final against Portumna. Loughrea have one of the best no nonsense full-backs in the county in Damien McClearn, he has never got a run for the county (I think he has been called up but refused) and their centre-forward Johnny Maher is well worth a try as well, he was on the panel during the league last year but let go for the championship. That's two positions. I can't help thinking though, that as long as there are Portumna players on the team, there won't be Loughrea players. There hasn't been since 2006. Such is the divide since the 2006 county final. It's a pity really.

Deedsie wrote: »

What about 97? In Fairness to him, he took over the reigns of a team Len Gaynor pulled together and won two All Irelands with them.

I have always said that Loughnane only finished the job. Gaynor had done much of the hard work before he got the job.

yahoo_moe

CyberDave wrote: »

I can't help thinking though, that as long as there are Portumna players on the team, there won't be Loughrea players. There hasn't been since 2006. Such is the divide since the 2006 county final. It's a pity really.

A shame alright and, unfortunately, typical of the politics that have held Galway back in recent years. Would a rematch this year (if it went off without any major incident) maybe help heal some of the wounds?

If I'm way off the mark here, be gentle - I'm not from Galway

CyberDave

yahoo_moe wrote: »

A shame alright and, unfortunately, typical of the politics that have held Galway back in recent years. Would a rematch this year (if it went off without any major incident) maybe help heal some of the wounds?

If I'm way off the mark here, be gentle - I'm not from Galway

A rematch would, quiet literally, open more new wounds. There would be a lot of old scores to be settled.

If it did go off without any major incident, which I don't think will happen, maybe Portumna would be satisfied to have gained revenge. Unfortunately, I think the scars from 2006 will remain regardless.

Agus

It's a shame if internal divisions have been holding Galway back...Ní neart go cur le chéile

evil-monkey

Agus wrote: »

It's a shame if internal divisions have been holding Galway back...Ní neart go cur le chéile

+1

Agus

http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=103179

Eight nominated for Galway post

03 November 2008

Eight candidates have been nominated to succeed Ger Loughnane as Galway’s next senior hurling manager.

Two of the Tribesmen’s ex-managers in Mattie Murphy and Noel Lane have been narrowed down as candidates, as to has John McIntyre, a five-time All Star winner with Tipperary, who has aligned himself with Michael Bond, Steve Mahon and Martin Coleman as part of his management team.



County hurling development officer Gerry Spellman also comes into the frame, as to does ex Portumna manager Jimmy Heverin, All-Ireland winner Anthony Cunningham and Under 21 boss Vincent Mullins.

Due to the number of nominations, it is said that a couple of weeks could pass before a choice is narrowed to lead Galway’s hurlers into the 2009 season.

tethad

who would be favourite?

CyberDave

I'd say Bond and his selectors, but McIntyre seems to have put a good team of selectors together as well. I don't think their is any clearcur favourite because of the large group of candidates.

tethad

doesn't it say bond is there as one of mcintyre's selectors??

CyberDave

tethad wrote: »

doesn't it say bond is there as one of mcintyre's selectors??

That's not right. McIntyre is running separate to Bond.

premierstone

Cant see mcintyre been given this, he should have got it twice before and was overlooked and after some of what he has written in hte last few years about the GCB I wouldnt say he has too many friends there and the fact he's from Tipp wont help.

CyberDave

The Tipp factor is the reason his hasn't got it in the past alright. He has Joe Connolly on board with him and the extra experience in Offaly, where he seems to have left behind a rising young team. That might help.