Galway hurling has been plunged back into turmoil this week after senior players in the panel aired their discontent with manager Conor Hayes following allegations of players being dropped via text messages.
Only 14 players turned up to training last Tuesday under the Hayes management, with selectors Pearse Piggott and Gerry Dempsey.
Recent Connacht captain Ollie Fahy, Mark Kerins, Declan O'Brien and Rory Gantley were all left out of the pre-season training. Kerins' brother Alan has opted out for the coming months because he is working abroad.
Also, former All-Ireland winner Joe Cooney has not as expected been called up to the management ticket. Reports in the Connacht Tribune also stated a member of the medical staff was told his services were no longer required via fax.
Kerins and Fahy were instrumental in Connacht's recent interprovincial success over Munster, scoring 10 points between them.
In November, a seven-man hurling committee recommended minor manager Mattie Murphy ahead of Hayes. However, the club delegates voted down the nomination with Hayes subsequently left in the role - a decision that appeased many in the county who preferred continuity.
Hayes led Galway to the National Hurling League title last year but their championship ended abruptly with a 19-point defeat to Kilkenny in the qualifiers. Although they have not won an All-Ireland since 1988, Galway hurling is expected to get a boost next year with the new championship structure giving them more parity with the other elite counties.
Meanwhile, the GAA Management Committee have named intercounty managers John Maughan and Mickey Harte as the Vodafone All Star trainers for next month's week-long trip to Hong Kong.
Mayo manager Maughan will take charge of this year's All Stars, which includes two from his Mayo panel in James Nallen and Ciarán McDonald. Two other county players, David Heaney and Ronan McGarrity - who Maughan felt should have been awarded an All Star - have also been called up as members of the five extra replacements.
Galway captain Declan Meehan and International Rules captain Padraig Joyce, as well as Kerry midfielder William Kirby, have also been invited on tour.
Maughan is selected on the back of his excellent record at intercounty level that has seen him guide Mayo to three All-Ireland finals (1996, '97 and 2004), although all have been lost.
"It is a very attractive prospect and, of course, the fact that we are going to a destination like Hong Kong makes it all the more appealing," he said.
Harte takes charge of the 2003 selection, a fitting decision considering he was at the helm for Tyrone's breakthrough All-Ireland success last year and that several of his Tyrone panel will be involved. "It is a tremendous honour for the players to be chosen as All Stars so for a manager it is also very special to be asked to take charge of one of the teams on tour," said Harte.
The players and management depart on January 19th, flying via Amsterdam, and play their match three days later in Hong Kong.
