John McIntyre has served as Galway senior hurling manager for three years and he will consult with key Galway hurling board officials before coming to a decision on his future.
After last Sunday’s disappointing defeat to Waterford, he said: "I have another year to run with a review after this season. I’m a realist - I can imagine some of the stuff that’s being said out there, but what can I do? That’s the jungle and that’s the jungle I’m happy to live in. I’ll sit down and talk to the Galway hurling board and we’ll carry out a review. The bottom line is - whatever is in the best interests of Galway hurling, John McIntyre has no problem in accepting that."
He added: "I’ve never believed in the script and all the loose talk that’s gone on over the last fortnight. We knew there was going to be a huge Waterford backlash. We were beaten all over the field last Sunday - there are no excuses. As a group of men, it’s much easier to cope with losing by 10 points rather than the one we had to endure last year and the year before.”
A disappointed McIntyre also apologised to the Galway supporters who went to Semple Stadium last Sunday to support his team.
“I’d like to apologise on behalf of myself, the team management, and the Galway players to the Galway supporters. Last Sunday was not a true reflection of the team. I know Waterford were good on the day and had an almighty cause. And fair dues to them. I congratulate them wholeheartedly, but we just didn’t perform. We never got to grips with Kevin Moran around midfield. There was an edge to Waterford that Galway just didn’t have. Waterford did to us what we needed to do to them at the start of the second half. That’s just the way it is - Galway’s attitude wasn’t wrong, we were expecting a battle, but were found wanting."
He also refused to lay blame and pointed out that there was collective responsibility;
"We’re all in this together. There will be a blame game, but it’s going to happen outside of the Galway dressing room. Those players have given me their heart and soul over the last three years. They’ve really trained hard, decent men, honourable men to work with, and I’m upset for them, and upset for the team management as well.
“An awful lot of work has gone into this and where there are winners, there are losers. The defeat was very comprehensive and Galway is going to have to carry out a root and branch examination of why it is not delivering on the underage successes and All-Ireland club victories. Physically, Waterford overpowered us today. I think that was a key component. They were sharper on the breaking ball and thoroughly deserved their win.”
