SamnLiam, interesting insight. You had some others on another thread that appear to confirm what many are thinking. The County Board made a right haimes of this.

festinog (Galway) - Posts: 3097 - 20/11/2015 17:00:58    1808742

Slayer...I have never spoken to a single member of the squad in my life.

Information is coming from county board delegates that are extremely pissed off and it will all end up in the open soon, when the red faces will not be wearing jerseys. But of course the meedja that have decided that the players were wrong will cover a lot of this up again. I give it one week before the list of grievances come out in public, and when you see how little was involved it will shock you. CB and Cunningham did the ostrich, and made a balls of it.

SamnLiam (Galway) - Posts: 8 - 20/11/2015 17:43:27    1808755

SamnLiam,

Absolutely 100% correct.

Barnowl94 (Galway) - Posts: 3150 - 20/11/2015 21:51:46    1808794

Forget one week SamandLiam. One day will do. Before anyone jumps. This statement unlike Anthony's interview was not released to get shots in or to gain favour from the general public. This letter was for county board delegates to understand their position. So this is not a bunch of players firing shots back at Anthony after his interview with RTE. This letter was drafted well before that interview.

http://www.joe.ie/sport/exclusive-galway-hurlers-reveal-reasons-they-lost-faith-in-anthony-cunningham-in-explosive-letter-to-county-board/520504

SamandLiamSoon (Galway) - Posts: 591 - 21/11/2015 09:21:45    1808803

I would disagree with Barnowl about the high point of Cunningham's reign. That 2012 Leinster Final was just an off day for KK. They proved that conclusively in September of the same year. Galway were consistently excellent that season from the conclusion of the NHL onwards, starting with a fine display v Dublin in the NHL relegation replay, took a breather and capped new players v Westmeath, ran through Offaly for a shortcut playing some class stuff up front, demolished an out of sorts KK in July, and played very well again to beat a decent Cork team in the semi (who could have won the '13 all-ireland if Gavin blew on time, let's not forget!). Galway then proceeded to play very well again in the first half of the drawn final, before hitting what appeared to be a 'mental wall' shortly before HT. Once that wall arrived on the scene, there would only be one winner. I think the high point of Cunningham's tenure was that he built a new team in just 2 seasons, staring NINE new players in their first final in 2015. The price of this 'achievement' though was that he appeared to lose the dressing room in the process.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3423 - 21/11/2015 11:42:38    1808820

The Galway players were correct in their decision. Cunningham decision making is not good judging by his decision to hang on even when it was obvious that his position was un-attainable. Other managers are obviously backing Cunningham for their own personal reasons (as it makes their own positions vulnerable traveling from one county to another)

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 21/11/2015 11:47:11    1808823

From a performance point of view beating KK well in the 2012 Leinster final was the high watermark on the pitch for AC Pope Ben.
I'm not sure how much credit we can give AC for the 2015 team, more luck than judgement involved in my view.

Barnowl94 (Galway) - Posts: 3150 - 21/11/2015 13:05:36    1808838

Galway may have got close in 2012 and 2015 , plenty of positives in both years, but in between we had 2 very poor seasons. It was clear even in those 2 years that something in the camp wasnt right. Players taking part in a Sevens Tournament the week of a Leinster Championship game in 2013 showed a disregard for teammates and management. I have sympathy For AC but a lot less for dragging the inevitable out so long. Less said about the Board the better.

conordee (Galway) - Posts: 440 - 21/11/2015 14:13:55    1808861

The two favourites for the job are Mattie Kenny of Cuala club, and Michael Donoghue formerly of Clarinbridge. Either way I wish both well. And hope they keep Galway in the National Hurling league division 1. Relegation would be a disaster.

galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2519 - 21/11/2015 14:43:01    1808866

I wonder will Anthony Cunningham reply to the players statement?Will it drag on or will this be the end of the matter?

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 21/11/2015 14:59:37    1808869

The annual 'relegation would be a disaster' one rears again. In the current 6 team format, relegation will be an inevitability not a disaster for at least one top level side. The 2013 all-ireland final was contested by two div2 sides, and it's possible that both of that seasons all-ireland semis were also. Div2 hurling was clearly no disaster for any of those sides in '13.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3423 - 21/11/2015 15:38:16    1808874

The Galway board are at fault here totally. AC should not have continued as manager after the replay in 2012 when he used injured players in the game. The board was not wise to this. This year the board did not object to the ref. from the KK region in the hurling final and while it looks ok on paper to lose by 4 points to KK the 3 consecutive calls against Galway after the 30 minute mark were huge. Not taking anything away from KK as champions but our county board need to reflect on their own performance again. Galway to bounce back in 2017.

suckvalleypaddy (Galway) - Posts: 1669 - 21/11/2015 17:48:47    1808887

Read the players statement twice. It's catty and their examples of why Cunningham is not a good manager are flimsy.

icehonesty (Wexford) - Posts: 2550 - 21/11/2015 18:32:21    1808895

I thought the players statement came off as very petty.There really was very little in it.Listening to Pete Finnerty today on RTE 1 and he seemed to think the same.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 21/11/2015 19:27:54    1808905

You would think that Cuederocket as you have nailed your colours to the managerial mast since this story broke.
AC got them to two finals but the players lost the finals is your mantra.

Barnowl94 (Galway) - Posts: 3150 - 22/11/2015 10:21:50    1808943

Thats not my mantra barnowl.I never said AC got the team to All Ire final and the players should take all the blame for final loss.I agreed with both taking a share of the blame.The only thing i dont agree with is the treatment of Anthony Cunningham.Maybe im old school(only 39),but im disappointed with the players.I was interested in hearing their grievances and now that i have,it seems petty to me.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 22/11/2015 10:51:36    1808948

I don't think any of us know what went on but players wouldn't have made this decision lightly. Remember they made their feelings known on this ages ago. People can bang on about records the record that Cunningham has but there can be a difference between a great club manager and a guy who can squeeze an extra 10 per cent out of a county team. I don't think the Galway team are good enough to go all the way next year but they defo would have had no chance if they didn't trust their manager. Cunningham was told by the players that they didn't have faith in him yet he met the county board and said all was good and rumours of unrest were false, which was beyond daft. If I was a manager and was told by the players I wasn't wanted I would walk straight out the door, I don't get why Cunningham would play hardball. And he said in his statement he was walking away for the good of Galway yet in the same statement lambasted the players who will be representing Galway next year? That is hardly for the good of Galway is it?

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7902 - 22/11/2015 11:00:58    1808949

I completely disagree with the sentiments of most people in this thread.
There's definitely a reason why the players didn't want him for another year.
I'm sure they know better what's going on on than their county board.
The players definitely deserve a say in who takes them in next year.
If I were a manager suffering a no confidence vote I'd have gone my merry way straight off the bat. To dig your heels in and still get ousted is not dignified.
Where in the f!ck did this idea of the pampered county star rear its head. These guys commit a ridiculous amount of their time to something that the majority don't get paid for. They at least deserve an input in to who dictates a significant proportion of their free time for the next year.
Player power alive and well and rightly so!

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4226 - 22/11/2015 11:36:26    1808954

Cuederocket,

link

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 22/11/2015 13:39:24    1808972

Cheers keeper.Interesting.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 22/11/2015 14:12:51    1808979