Cunningham and Galway lean on twin towers of strength

One is Yin to the other’s Yang, one is Zig, the other Zag — we’re talking about Tom Helebert and Mattie Kenney, not so much Galway manager Anthony Cunningham’s two right-hand men as one his right hand, the other his left.

As with all the best modern GAA management teams, Helebert and Kenney aren’t there just to make up the numbers, standing with arms folded on the sidelines during training sessions, called on only when the team needs to be picked.

No, these guys are front and centre, integral parts of the new Galway system, each with a very active coaching role. Fifteen very enlightening minutes in their company and you understand why Cunningham values them so highly, why he brought them with him from the All-Ireland-winning U21 management team of last year on his own appointment as Galway manager.