Cunningham to stay as Galway manager

Anthony Cunningham is set to become Galway’s longest serving manager since Cyril Farrell guided them to All-Ireland glory in the 1980s after being handed a three-year extension to his term in charge.

Cunningham is due to be ratified by Galway County Board on Monday night when former All Star Kevin Walsh will also be given a three-year term in charge of the Galway footballers.

Cunningham, who led Galway to an All-Ireland final draw against Kilkenny in 2012 in his first year in charge, saw his term end when they were knocked out of the championship this summer by Tipperary.

He was challenged for the position by his former coach Mattie Kenny, who had assembled a backroom team which included Tom Helebert, Mattie Murphy, and ex-Galway hurlers Justin Campbell and Jeff Lynskey.

Cunningham is about to be put in charge for another two years with the option of a third and his outgoing selectors Eugene Cloonan and Damien Curley will again be on board.

Interviews concluded this week and Cunningham’s name went before the Galway hurling committee last night and will go before the county board for ratification on Monday night.

Meanwhile, Kevin Walsh will return to inter-county management a year after stepping down from his five seasons in charge of Sligo. Walsh will take over from Alan Mulholland after the only other candidate Pete Warren withdrew from the race before the interviews took place. Walsh will be supported by Brian Silke, who has guided his club Corofin to glory and who is a brother of former All-Ireland winning captain Ray. His other selector, Sean Conlon, is currently part of the Barna management team led by ex-Mayo footballer Pat Fallon.