GAA:Joe Kernan has been officially ratified as the new Galway senior football manager and takes over from Liam Sammon on a three-year term. The Crossmaglen legend guided his native Armagh to All-Ireland glory in 2002 and has now returned to the game to take up a new challenge with the Tribesmen.
Kernan’s appointment was rubber-stamped at last night’s county board meeting in Loughgeorge. He and Tomas O Flatharta were the two main contenders after three other nominees withdrew.
"It is one of the top jobs in the country and we had two high-calibre men in the running, but we believe Joe Kernan is the person to lead Galway football for the next few years," said Joe Holleran, Galway football board chairman.
"Hopefully the success he brought to Armagh can be repeated here in Galway.
"He has a great track record and with Galway having enjoyed underage success in recent years, we hope that we can move on to the next level with Joe at the helm."
Kernan is still on holiday but is expected to return in time to attend the Galway SFC semi-finals (Salthill-Knocknacarra v Corofin and Caltra v Mountbellew-Moylough) on Sunday.
In a recent interview Kernan first indicated the possibility of taking up a new role with Galway.
"I was approached by a couple of county teams but they didn't really appeal to me," said Kernan.
"Then I spoke to people at the Salthill-Knocknacarra club when I was in Galway a few weeks ago and I also met with county board officials and I just had a good gut feeling about Galway.
"I did my time with Armagh and I decided maybe it was time for a new challenge and I decided not to go back.
"The feeling I got from Galway is great and the officials seem driven and passionate as well.
"I discussed it with my family and they all said ‘yes’ so I put my name forward. Transport (to Galway) was a stumbling block at the start because (I thought) car was the only way to get there.
"But Galway football is sponsored by Aer Arann and I’m just a 45-minute drive from Dublin Airport and Galway Airport is only a few miles to the training facility at Loughgeorge, which looks amazing, and so I decided that travel wasn’t really an issue."
It remains to be seen who Kernan will bring in to form his backroom staff.
Kernan replaces Sammon after a disappointing campaign where Galway were beaten by Mayo in the Connacht final before losing to Donegal in the qualifiers.