Lane loses out as Galway give Hayes two-year term

Galway Manegerial Position: Galway have appointed Conor Hayes as their new senior hurling manager, despite his limited managerial experience. A full meeting of the county board last night ended with Hayes being elected to the position in favour of giving Noel Lane a third year in charge, and also in preference to the two other candidates, Gerry Fahy and Brendan Lynskey.

Whatever experience Hayes lacks on the sideline, however, he makes up for on the field. As a player he started in six All-Ireland finals, and was involved in two more as a substitute. He is best remembered for captaining Galway to the back-to-back All-Ireland titles of 1987-88 - years when he dominated the full back position. In fact 1988 was the last time the county enjoyed All-Ireland success.

Hayes ended his playing days by helping his club Kiltormer win their sole All-Ireland senior hurling title in 1992. Yet until now he has resisted any move into intercounty management.

He has already aligned himself with two similarly inexperienced selectors, Pearse Piggott (Gort) and Gerry Dempsey (Athenry), though they reflect a wide geographical spread around the county. His detachment from most of the current players will, he has stated, avoid any excessive loyalty and help ensure a more competitive Galway team.

The appointment of Hayes underlines the growing unease within the county at their failure to win a senior title in the past 14 years. Lane was eager to get another term in charge after two years of what many regarded as a decent championship record, namely the wins over Kilkenny and Cork. The loss to Clare this summer was, however, one of the lowest points in several years.

Both Fahy and Lynskey also had strong ties to the success of the 1980s. Fahy was more recently involved as trainer to the Galway footballers in 1997, and was expected to link up with former players Sylvie Linnane, Gerry McInerney and Michael Connolly.

Lynskey was, after Lane, the most experienced of the candidates. He managed the Galway under-21s up to two years ago and was also a selector with Cyril Farrell during the unsuccessful Galway years of the late 1990s. He too had lined himself up with legendary players - Tony Keady and Pete Finnerty - as well as Barney Costello.

Lane was believed to have had strong support from the players, but in the end it was Hayes's playing record that most convinced the club delegates, and he has been given a two-year term.

With Lane's term over, his trainer Mike McNamara has become the clear favourite to take over the vacant Offaly hurling management position. County chairman Brendan Ward hoped a special meeting could be called later in the week to finally confirm the new appointment.

Meanwhile, Mullinahone won't get too much time to dwell on their first Tipperary senior hurling title achieved on Sunday. Next Sunday they face Waterford champions Mount Sion in the Munster semi-final, a game that is sure to arouse memories of the Munster championship final this summer when Waterford took the crown from Tipperary (TG4 have confirmed it as their GAA Beo game).

Mullinahone player-manager John Leahy will also be forced to make some changes to his starting line-up as midfielder Eddie Carey is almost certainly ruled out with a broken wrist, while centre forward Brian O'Meara is doubtful with an arm injury.

The hamstring injury that denied fellow intercounty star Paul Kelly a starting place in Sunday's county final (though he did appear for the last two minutes) is once again likely to limit him to a supporting role.