More than 20 members of the Galway hurling panel met last weekend on the pretense of discussing team holiday plans. Their true purpose for the meeting however, was to debate whether they supported the reinstatement of manager Anthony Cunningham. And by a show of hands, the overall consensus was to seek a change in management.
Representatives of the team met with Cunningham the day after their meeting to communicate their wishes to replace him for the second time this season. But just two days after the meeting, the St Thomas' clubman's position was restored at a county board meeting which, according to reports, was not well received by the team.
Delegates who attended that meeting say that initial signs of discontentment were exposed after Cunningham was asked if the players 'were with him?' Cunningham dismissed the enquiry and there were no supplementary questions as the former player and accomplished Gaelic Football manager was ratified for a fifth successive season.
The unrest in Galway appears to be following a similar vein to the player revolt in Mayo which has resulted in the departure of co-managers Noel Connelly and Pat Holmes.
Anthony Cunningham has achieved a brace of riches with Galway since coming in. Last month, he led his side to a second All-Ireland final in four years and has also nurtured the talents of championship infants Padriag and Cathal Mannion, Conor Whelean and Jason Flynn who all flourished this season.
Even though Cunningham has the support of the board, the players are noticeably unhappy with the current situation and it appears they will persist with their plans to replace him. Emergency talks were held last night with the outcome still to be confirmed.
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