Galway panel vote against Cunningham ahead of crunch county board meeting

The Galway county board meets tonight with the subject of management on the agenda.

The board recruited an independent mediator in an attempt to resolve serious issues between manager Anthony Cunningham and the senior hurlers, but with no success.

Anthony Cunningham led the players to an All-Ireland final in September.

In a statement last week they said: “The mediation process has concluded and the Independent Mediator has determined that despite best efforts there was little, if no, possibility of the parties reaching common agreement, on the substantive issue.

“At this stage all reasonable efforts have been made to resolve the impasse.”

As a result, “the County Committee will meet again on Monday evening next, 16th November, to make a decision on the matter.”

Ahead of that meeting the Galway panel have voted against keeping Cunningham in charge.

In a secret ballot overseen by an independent observer last night 26 out of 32 voted no when asked if they had confidence in the current management.

The question asked of the players was if they would play under the current management team next season. 23 said no with only 9 voting yes.

A two thirds majority would be required by delegates if the decision to ratify Cunningham for another season is overturned.

Cunningham has been in charge of the senior hurlers since 2012 and in September led the county to a second All-Ireland final in four seasons.