Kenny wants to be Tribe manager

Former Galway selector Mattie Kenny is to challenge the man he once shared the sideline with for the position of Galway hurling manager.

Kenny, who served under Anthony Cunningham at U21 and senior level in recent years, this week confirmed to top-brass his interest in replacing Cunningham.

Current Galway intermediate and U21 boss Johnny Kelly, who managed Portumna to All-Ireland Club glory, and two-time All-Ireland medal winner Brendan Lynskey, a selector during Ger Loughnane’s reign, have also declared their intention to contest the bainisteoir’s bib.

Cunningham’s three-year term ended with the qualifier loss to Tipperary last month and the outgoing manager now faces a real battle to hold onto the position.

There will be no change to his backroom team if returned for a fourth campaign, selectors Eugene Cloonan and Damian Curley pledging to remain on. Hurling officials in the county are confident of having a manager for 2015 in place by late September with interviews scheduled to commence next week.

Meanwhile, nominations for the position of Galway football manager will close this day week.

The board executive are keen to move swiftly in crowning Alan Mulholland’s successor.

A six-person committee — Tadhg Ó Conghaile, Seamus O’Grady, Milo Costello, John Hynes, Noel Treacy and Bernie O’Connor — will oversee the appointment.

Football board chairman Tadhg Ó Conghaile says the incoming manager will be handed a three-year term and stressed there is no preference to again opt for an “insider”.

“We want the best person for Galway football.

“We want to build on the 2011 and 2013 All-Ireland U21 final wins.

“The foundation is in place for whoever takes the job. Our aim for 2015 is to earn promotion to Division 1 of the league and then challenge for an All-Ireland final spot in the year or two after.

“Kevin Walsh is certainly the bookies favourite, but we will wait to see who comes through from the nomination process.

“If the committee do not feel there is sufficient quality in the names nominated by the clubs we have the power then to look elsewhere.”