Hayes in pressure cooker post

THESE are not good times to be a senior inter-county hurling manager.

Gone already this year for a variety of reasons, Bertie Óg Murphy of Cork, Eamonn Cregan of Limerick, Tom Fogarty of Offaly, Bernie O'Connor of Kerry, Nicky English of Tipperary, Tony Dempsey in Wexford and Dinny Cahill of Antrim.

Even in the counties which had success, Brian Cody came under a lot of criticism in Kilkenny for what was seen by some as reckless experimentation during the course of the league and championship and even the double in those competitions didn't quite put all that to bed.

In Clare, despite bringing the team to an unexpected All-Ireland final, manager Cyril Lyons has come under fire. Even Justin McCarthy, despite managing Waterford to their first Munster title in nearly 40 years, suffered a few murmurings following their second-half collapse in the All-Ireland semi-final loss to Clare.

Most pressurised of all, however, has to be the Galway job. Two years ago, in a year in which he led Galway to National League and Railway Cup success, came within an ace of making the All-Ireland final and there's no diplomatic way to put this Mattie Murphy was shafted.

In came Noel Lane and a new management team, and in their first year got to the All-Ireland final.

This year they slipped, losing to a resurgent Clare in the All-Ireland quarter-final after dismissing Cork hardly a hanging offence. But itt is in Galway, and this week Lane lost his position in a vote at the county board delegates meeting.

Thus, new manager Conor Hayes is under no illusions about what he's letting himself in for. "The attitude here is that we've been winning minor and U-21 All-Irelands, why aren't we winning senior? Kilkenny, Cork, Tipperary, Wexford, are winning All-Irelands. We're not, and we should be.

"People are beginning to say now the players are not in it, but I don't accept that, there's plenty of talent there. We have 20 senior clubs, which isn't, perhaps, a true reflection of the real depth of talent in Galway, some mightn't be at the top level.

Galway has been dominated by two clubs for the last 10 years, which isn't healthy either, but at the same time, even if you only got one player from each senior club, you've already got a panel of 20 and you still have the intermediate clubs, junior. The potential is there, it's a case of getting the best players in, having a look at them, then filter it down to those you want to keep."

Obvious of course, easily said, but how to get it done? "It's a man-management test, but it's important you have good lads with you as well, and I have. I didn't choose the two lads strategically, with clubs in mind, and I was on record as having stated that. I picked Gerry Dempsey as a training man and a hurling man (he's a PE teacher), and I picked Pierce Piggott as a guy I admire because of his deep knowledge of the game, and his enthusiasm for it, his work-rate.

"As I explained before the vote was ever taken, I picked the guys to do the job, not to get the job. I could have gone for an additional two ex-players, strategically located, get their clubs on board, but for what purpose? Just to get votes when I don't really need them? Three is enough, and within that three we have a qualified trainer, a close, tight-knit operation."

Though Hayes is new to the inter-county management scene, he is no stranger to the big stage, having played for Galway for more than a decade, becoming one of the few from the west to win three All-Ireland senior medals, including two, 87 and 88, as captain. He also led the county to Railway Cup, league and Oireachteas titles, as well as picking up All-Irelands at U-21 with Galway and at club level, with Kiltormer.

A heady success list, but it was as much for his leadership and unifying qualities that the popular Ballinasloe-based self-employed civil engineer was chosen. "We won it on the first count, 28 votes, a clear-cut victory, and I was very surprised at that. I thought we would eventually come through, but felt it would go to a few counts.

"What was heartening was the positive response afterwards from clubs, from the delegates, there's a good feeling in Galway about it."

"I think people wanted a change here, to get away from everybody who had been there before, even at minor and U-21 level. Noel was there before, Brendan Lynskey, but we were regarded as a new force, almost like outsiders. People wanted something different."

They may have wanted a change of management, but the expectations of Galway hurling people will remain the same All-Ireland senior success. To that end, having won the position, the new manager is turning his thoughts to preparations for next season.

"We're without the Athenry lads for the moment, obviously, but we won't be doing a whole lot before Christmas anyway. A lot of lads in Galway have been training and hurling 'til very lately. The championship ran on a bit here, and I don't think you'd get a great response from fellas at the moment if you were to ask them to turn out in Athenry or somewhere next month under lights.

"They'd probably turn up, but you might be doing more harm than good, in the long term. Gerry will be the trainer and we haven't gone into the details yet, but a bit of gym work, weights programmes, get them going, then get into it in the New Year. But they need a bit of a break, there's a long year for them."

An even longer one to come will be the hope of Hayes and his management team. Or it could be another short reign in Galway.