Galway football manager John O¿Mahony has announced his intention to stay with the county, possibly for as long as another three years.
O'Mahony had been rumoured to step down as team boss in the wake of this years All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Kerry in early August.
However, the charismatic manager, who also coaches the Under-21 side involved in tomorrow's All-Ireland semi-final, has decided to commit himself to the senior cause for at least another 12 months.
O'Mahony told Gaway Bay FM: "I thought long and hard about it. Everybody needs time to think, but the support and encouragement I got was overwhelming.
"I decided along with [team selectors] Stephen Joyce and Pete Warren to give this another shot and I'm looking forward to it now. . . . Regarding player retirements, I hope everyone will think long and hard before making up their minds".
O'Mahony has been in charge of the Tribesmen since 1997, leading them to All-Ireland glory in 1998 and as recently as last September. Hugely popular within the county, his decision has been greeted with a mixture of relief and optimism.
An "absolutely thrilled" Galway football secretary John Power confirmed to ireland.comthis morning that O'Mahony was definitely committed for at least a further year.
"I got the news myself this morning and we're all delighted," said Power. "The finer details have still to be worked out. There's talk of John staying for as long as three more years, but all I can say at the minute is he's 100 per cent committed for next year".