Ger Loughnane wrote his own epitaph long before this week’s Galway County Board meeting.
The Clare native, who was sacked this week when delegates voted 28 to 26 against his ratification as manager for a third season, had backed himself into the corner having declared that he would bring an All Ireland title to the Tribesmen within two years.
In his first season he led Galway to victories over Laois and Antrim, but lost to Clare and Kilkenny, while this season Galway were eliminated from the championship by Cork in the qualifiers.
He had also indicated he would step down after that exit, before changing his mind in the hopes of seeing out a third term. By then it was too late as intensive behind-the-scenes lobbying began to end his reign.
Now Galway Hurling Board chairman Miko Ryan has said his successor will not be named in a hurry. Two management teams have already stated their interest - Michael Bond, who led Offaly to a famous All-Ireland victory in 1998, with a team that includes former players Joe Cooney, Steve Mahon, and Michael Coleman; and Jimmy Heverin, who has guided Portumna to two All-Ireland club titles in the past three years, with another former player, Anthony Cunningham, in his set-up.
