Forde’s days numbered

PETER FORDE’S time as Galway manager looks all-but at an end after Saturday’s All-Ireland qualifier defeat to Meath.

Appointed in 2004, the Mayo man delivered a Connacht title in his first season in charge but suffered provincial disappointment in the last two years.

“My three years is up so that is it as far as I am concerned,” said Forde.

When he took the reins many of the heroes from 1998 and 2001 were still on the panel but, despite the emergence of new talent, Galway have not been able to build an effective unit.

Forde gave youth its fling, dropping Padraic Joyce, Derek Savage and Declan Meehan for the game in Portlaoise and he defended the decision despite the loss.

“We felt changes were needed. The Sligo game didn’t go too well. We needed some fresh faces and we had the more experienced players to come on in the later stages,” he said.