Anthony Cunningham furious at ‘kangaroo court’ Galway exit
Just over six weeks since a delegation of players informed Cunningham that the vast majority of the panel didn’t want him to remain in charge next season, the St Thomas man announced his decision to step aside.
It followed a meeting of players on Sunday night where they reiterated their position against Cunningham. In two votes supervised by an independent supervisor, 26 of the 32-man panel expressed no confidence in Cunningham.
A total of 23 said they would not play under him next season.
Cunningham’s future was set to be debated at a meeting of the hurling committee in Claregalway followed by a special meeting of the county board in Loughgeorge last night. It was anticipated he would survive but news of his decision broke less than an hour before the hurling gathering.
In a statement released via the county board, he slammed the 2015 panel: “I believe that the players are misguided in that they are not taking the views of their county on board. They, through their actions, have shown scant respect for, and loyalty to the goodwill shown them by supporters, clubs and county GAA committees and management.
“I contend it is unreasonable to express a lack of confidence in management — how else could we have reached a winning position in an All-Ireland final last September? I consider this a kangaroo court decision, led by a core group of players orchestrated with the help of others outside Galway, motivated by a desire to unjustly extend their lifespan as inter-county players placing personal agendas above the greater good of Galway hurling.
“This goes to the very core of what our Association stands for — there is a national danger now that the democratic and voluntary ethos of the GAA is being overrun by groups of players that wish to indulge in the selection and termination of management.”
Cunningham said he still had a mandate from the clubs despite players’ opposition to him. A recent arbitration process had failed to find suitable common ground between the two parties.
“Despite the fact I was unanimously ratified and supported by the Galway GAA clubs, the County Hurling and Galway County Committees and having reviewed the current impasse in detail over the past month, it is with great sadness tonight that I and my management team announce our resignation from our positions.
“I do so with the best interests of Galway hurling in mind and with the priority of best assisting Galway hurling to build on the achievement of 2015. As a management team we have exhausted all avenues with support from the clubs, their delegates, the hurling fraternity and county committees in the past month to bring this impasse to a conclusion.”
Cunningham concluded: “Galway hurling is bigger than any one individual and given that this current impasse shows no immediate sign of abating, I reluctantly conclude it best that I now step aside. I hold a deep conviction that the current Galway management team is the one best positioned to deliver Galway hurling to the next level and bring All-Ireland success to our county.”
Mattie Kenny, who was a selector to Cunningham before he was interviewed along with Cunningham for the position last year, and Michael Donoghue have already been mentioned as the front-runners for the vacant role. Kenny has lead Dublin side Cuala to their first Leinster final since 1980 while O’Donoghue, who has been linked with Mayo of late, guided Clarinbridge to an All-Ireland final in 2011.
Galway’s hurlers travel to Boston on Thursday where they will face Dublin in a Super 11s game in Fenway Park on Sunday.
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