Ford set to continue

Peter Ford is expected to continue as Galway football manager and complete his three-year term in 2007, according to football…

Peter Ford is expected to continue as Galway football manager and complete his three-year term in 2007, according to football board chairman Pat Egan, although the current management team may require some alteration.

Ford's second year in charge of Galway ended disastrously with a fourth round qualifier defeat at home to Westmeath on July 29th.

The future of selectors Ja Fallon and Frank Broderick is uncertain but Francis Roche and Ciarán Ó Fatharta are expected to continue their backroom duties.

The role of team trainer Des Ryan will also be reviewed.

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"I'd expect he'll complete his term," said Egan. "He will probably change the (backroom) team around but we will wait until after the county championship and then see what he comes up with."

Corofin await the winners of this weekend's semi-final replay between Killererin and Caltra in the final, pencilled in for October 15th.

Fears over Ford's future were heightened when the county board withdrew from next month's rescheduled FBD Connacht League final in New York. However, Egan put that decision down to player availability, or lack thereof.

"We only had 13 players available from our championship panel due to a number of factors. Ten players were ineligible as they played for their third level institutions during the FBD, other players are training for the Railway Cup and others are involved with the International Rules training."

Kieran Fitzgerald, Joe Bergin and Damien Burke are currently seeking selection for Seán Boylan's squad, while Pádraic Joyce is part of the Irish management team.

Meanwhile, contrary to media reports this week, former Cavan assistant manager Damien Cassidy will be interviewed for the manager's position tomorrow.

Cassidy joined Vincent Kelly and Tony Brady in opting out of the managerial race earlier this week but has since changed his mind.

Donal Keogan and Terry Hyland will also undergo the interview process tomorrow night. Former Cavan minor manager Keogan arrives into the process with the trump card of a bringing Paul Grimley, Joe Kernan's former number two at Armagh, in on his management ticket.

The Cavan County Board have reserved the right to look elsewhere for a candidate if the interviewee's do not fulfil the requirements. Sources in Cavan have admitted that Grimley is a potential candidate for the manager's role.

The Fermanagh County Board have rewarded football manager Charlie Mulgrew with a three-year extension after the Donegal man guided the county to the fourth round of the qualifiers and also retained division one status for 2007.

Tommy Murphy Cup champions Leitrim have confirmed that Dessie Dolan snr will continue as their football manager for a third season.

Finally, Jason Sherlock returned to club colours last night, removing doubts about his future with Na Fianna GAA club, in the Dublin club championship replay against Ballymun Kickhams. Sherlock had not played any football since Dublin's All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Mayo on August 27th.

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey is The Irish Times' Soccer Correspondent