Micheál Donoghue is back as Galway hurling manager

Then Dublin manager Micheál Donoghue during the Leinster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 3 match between Dublin and Antrim at Parnell Park in Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Micheál Donoghue will return for a second spell as Galway senior hurling manager next season.

The Clarinbridge man’s name is to be put forward for ratification for a four-year term at Monday’s county board meeting, it was announced on Thursday night.

Donoghue had been expected to succeed Henry Shefflin having stepped down as Dublin boss earlier this month after two seasons in charge.

In 2017, Donoghue brought Galway to a first All-Ireland SHC title in 29 years but stepped down two years later when the county exited the championship at the provincial stage.

Donoghue, who was appointed in late 2015, retained the support of the executive although differences with some officials were understood to be a compelling reason why he chose to leave the position.

A statement from Galway GAA read: “The management committee of Galway GAA is delighted to recommend the appointment of Micheál Donoghue as the Galway senior hurling manager.

“Micheál and his management team will be put forward for a four-year term at Monday night’s county committee meeting. We look forward to working closely with Micheál and the management team and wish them all the very best in the years ahead.” 

It is expected Donoghue will include some of his former management team that included. Franny Forde and Noel Larkin followed Donoghue to Dublin. Eamon O’Shea, who come on board with Shefflin this past season, previously worked with Donoghue in Tipperary during his time as manager there.

Meanwhile, Ballygunner manager Darragh O’Sullivan is considering an appeal against a sideline ban ahead of Sunday’s Waterford SHC final.

O’Sullivan was recommended the suspension after he was shown a red card by referee Nicky O’Toole at half-time in last Sunday’s semi-final win over Passage in Walsh Park.

O’Sullivan was notified of the penalty earlier this week and is weighing up the possibility of contesting it in order to lead his team against Abbeyside in Fraher Field as The Gunners aim for their 11th consecutive senior championship title.

O’Sullivan’s brother Shane missed the Passage game following a red card for an off-the-ball incident involving his former Waterford team-mate Kevin Moran in Ballygunner’s quarter-final against De La Salle the previous weekend.

Elsewhere, Davy Fitzgerald has confirmed his Armagh management team. Pat Bennett, Arron Graffin and Paudie Shivers are his coaches/selectors while former Saffrons star Neil McManus is on board as performance coach.

Bennett, who guided Ferns St Aidan’s to a Wexford SHC title two years ago previously coached Kerry and was part of Fitzgerald’s management team in The Model County.

Former Antrim defender Graffin (Cushendall) currently works as a player development officer with the Gaelic Players Association while Paudie Shivers (Dunloy) served as Antrim’s U20 manager in 2022. McManus (Cushendall) retired from inter-county hurling in July last year.