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Hurling

"Players thought it was best for Galway hurling going forward" - Aidan Harte on Anthony Cunningham's departure

It has been a weird November for Galway hurling. Anthony Cunningham resigned last week as manager...



"Players thought it was be...
Hurling

"Players thought it was best for Galway hurling going forward" - Aidan Harte on Anthony Cunningham's departure

It has been a weird November for Galway hurling.

Anthony Cunningham resigned last week as manager after losing the support of the players. In a statement he said;  "I believe the players are misguided in that they are not taking the views of their county on board. They, through their actions have shown scant respect for, and loyalty to the goodwill shown them by supporters, clubs and County GAA Committees and Management." He also famously called the decision of the players as a "kangaroo court decision".

As the ink was drying from Cunningham's resignation statement, the Galway squad were preparing to fly to Boston to face Dublin in an exhibition match at the famous Fenway Park. In an altered format, the All Ireland runners up won the game 50-47. 

After the match, Newstalk Sport's Oisin Langan spoke to Galway's Aidan Harte about the experience of playing in Boston and the instability in Galway hurling in previous weeks.

The Gort native told Oisin that the players are happy to move on after voting in favour of a no confidence motion against their former manager. "The vote was the vote. Players thought it was best for Galway hurling going forward. All we can do now is look to the future... Collectively as a group, we thought it was better for Galway hurling going forward if we had a fresh start."

Despite the delay in Cunningham's departure from Galway, Harte told Oisin Langan that the players conducted themselves properly during the saga. "It's common knowledge that we went to Anthony and aired our views. He felt that he wanted to hold on. As he said, he probably though that some guys were bullied into their opinion."

Galway's hurlers return to competitive action next year when they face Cork in the Allianz League in Pearse Stadium on February 14th.

Listen to Harte speak to Oisin at the end of this week's Rewind podcast.

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