Galway GAA chiefs rubberstamp endorsement of Éamonn Fitzmaurice as football manager

Former Kerry boss will be appointed for a three year term, and will detail his management set up in the coming weeks

GALWAY GLEE: Eamonn Fitzmaurice has been recommended by Galway GAA chiefs to take up the position of senior football manager on a three-year term. Pic: James Lawlor, Inpho

GALWAY GAA chiefs have recommended All-Ireland winning Kerry manager Éamonn Fitzmaurice as their new football manager on a three-year term.

Chairman Paul Bellew told a Board meeting in Galway Wednesday that Fitzmaurice's management and backroom team would be finalised over the coming weeks.

The managerial coup, revealed by the Irish Examiner Tuesday, will turn disappointment in the county at the departure of Tribe legend Padraic Joyce into excitement at the prospect of what the Finuge man can bring to the senior set up in 2027. Galway haven't won a senior football All-Ireland since 2001.

Galway GAA chair Bellew said: “We are delighted to appoint a manager of Éamonn’s calibre to lead the Galway senior footballers for the next three years. Éamonn’s record as both a player and a manager speaks for itself, while his recent role as a member of the Football Rules Committee underlined the positive influence he continues to have on Gaelic football.

“I want to acknowledge and thank everyone who took part in the process over the past number of weeks. We now look forward to working closely with Éamonn, the players and the wider team as we begin the next chapter for Galway football."

Fitzmaurice stepped away from inter-county management in 2018 when he left the role with Kerry after six seasons. Though he has continued to enjoy success at schools and club level, both locally and nationally, it was widely felt that, approaching 50, he had decided his time at inter-county level was done.

However he is known to be enthused and excited by the prospect of working with a group of footballers that will still be in the conversation come January for 2027 silverware, despite an underwhelming campaign this season.

As manager of Kerry, he guided the Kingdom to an unlikely All-Ireland in 2014 against Donegal, also winning six consecutive Munster Football Championship titles. He holds three All-Ireland medals as a player and remarkably, was involved either a player, selector or manager with Kerry every year from 1994 to 2018 – a remarkable 25 years from playing minor to a selector with Jack O’Connor, to the Under 21 manager to taking over as senior manager in 2012.