Galway delegates have voted in favour of the county's senior hurling team joining the Leinster championship, despite stenuous opposition from some of the Tribesmen's top officers in a meeting this evening.
Earlier today the players' panel gave their "100 per cent" backing to the proposed move.
In a secret ballot the this evening, the motion was passed by 66 votes to 54 after just two speakers - captain David Collins, serving as the Liam Mellows delegate, and Hurling Board secretary John Fahey -argued in favour of the move during an debate lasting an hour and a quarter.
Hurling Board chairman Miko Ryan, Central Council delegate Bernie O'Connor and former County Board chairmen Frank Burke and Gerry Cloherty were opposed to the move.
Those opposed cited the impact on Galway club games, the relocation of some of Galway's championship games and the fact that four Leinster counties opposed the move as reasons to vote against it.
However, the will of the players appears to have been swung the vote for the Tribesmen.
Addressing the delegates Collins said: "I plead with you to give your backing to the players. They voted unanimously to back the move 100 per cent. I am asking you to do the same."
In a statement released this morning the panel pointed out that "competitive games would provide them with the platform of hard championship games they require".
"The Galway panel are of the view that the 2008 championship model did little for their aspirations as they were the only team in the country to go out of the competition after just one loss," the statement added.
"The panel are asking for the support of the rest of the country in the move to Leinster, it will be for the better of hurling and that is what we all strive for."