Anthony Daly: You nearly always felt Galway were looking for a row, searching for an excuse...

Ger Loughnane during his spell as Galway manager. Anthony Daly believes Galway have been masters of the blame game. Picture: INPHO/Donall Farmer

In July 2008, I was upstairs in my sports shop in Ennis looking for runners to put out on display when my phone beeped with notification of a voicemail. I didn’t recognise the number of the missed call but I dialled into my inbox.

I won’t mention the man’s name, but the voice message was from a then high-ranking officer of the Galway County Board. “Just to let you know Anthony,” he said, “we nearly have him gone.” By him, he meant Ger Loughnane.