New Galway manager Hayes expected to be a unifying force
"There isn't a lot of surprise here, he was spoken of as favourite for the last week, it was felt he'd get it. I'm happy with it, he's a fine fella, and hopefully he'll do well."
One of the principal reasons Hayes got the nod was that in a county riven by dissent over the years, its championship preparations always taking place to a background of different voices from different camps, the former double All-Ireland-winning captain is seen as a facilitator, a unifying force.
In a county where there is no shortage of top-class talent, his biggest challenge will be to get everyone on board and pulling together.
"That is true," Murphy agreed. "But Conor will have no problem with that. He never got involved in controversy even as a player, everyone will be equal to him. He was never manager before, but he was a good player, a good captain, a good leader on the field, a great way about him. He has the respect of everybody.
"Captain in 87 and 88, two good years for us, but we've had nothing much since, only leagues and so on. I would be hoping that will change. The way I look at it, any man that's gone through the All-Ireland experience as a player should know what he's about, and Conor played in five or six All-Ireland finals at least.
"Maybe this management business is being blown out of proportion. You have to have the players, and you have to have the bit of luck as well."
The players are there, but if they get the luck and if the new manager can get everyone thinking with a single mind, Galway will be a real force.
With Hayes is Pierce Piggott from Gort, a name from his own successful playing era though in the background and Ger Dempsey from Athenry, county championship winners last Sunday.
Much of the recent disharmony in Galway hurling has been polarised around Athenry. The dominant club in Galway for the last decade (in the country, with the exception of Birr), Athenry divides much public opinion in the county, the dissenters claiming, without reason, that Galway will never win anything as long as Athenry remain dominant. Having Dempsey, a PE teacher at St Mary's, on board, is a shrewd move by Hayes.
Meanwhile in Clare, the big question at last night's monthly meeting revolved not around the ratification of Cyril Lyons as manager automatic, according to PRO Des Crowe but on what job Clare's former double All-Ireland-winning captain Anthony Daly would fill.
"Anthony Daly's position is not clear," said Crowe yesterday afternoon, prior to the meeting. "There is a lot of speculation he'll be on Cyril's team (that's his management team), but Anthony has expressed an interest in managing the Clare minor team and that is being pursued.
"Currently however, Anthony also has commitments to the Clarecastle team for a couple of years. We're awaiting a decision from him as to what he's going to do he could be with the Clare minors, Clarecastle, or even with the Clare senior team. My best information is he will be with the minors."
The reason for the speculation is that with the resignation of John Minogue from Lyons' management team, there is a vacancy, and although he is still in the first year of a retirement hastened by illness (a serious blood disorder), Daly has long been seen as management material.
"We know Louis Mulqueen is staying with Cyril, we know John Minogue is opting out, but we don't yet know who will be replacing John. And there is no pressure going to be put on Cyril to make an announcement," Crowe said. "He may not even be at the meeting, but if he is, he might well announce there and then who's going to be with him for next year, in which case it will be debated tonight."
On the U-21 scene, current senior keeper Davy Fitzgerald will be ratified as coach, a position he held before with distinction. A manager has yet to be appointed.
