Anthony Cunningham has been ratified as Galway's new hurling manager tonight.

The All-Ireland U21 winning boss, who led Garrycastle to their third successive Westmeath SFC title last Sunday, was appointed for a three-year term when the Galway hurling board convened at the Raheen Woods Hotel in Athenry. The meeting was due to have taken place last Monday night, but was postponed because the seven-man appointments committee needed more time to make their decision.

But they have since decided that former star forward Cunningham is the man to lead Galway forward after giving him the nod ahead of Clarinbridge manager Micheal Donoghue and Johnny Kelly of Portumna. The 46-year-old, whose selectors will be Tom Helebert and Mattie Kenny, succeeds John McIntyre, who stepped down in the wake of the Tribesmen's disastrous All-Ireland SHC quarter-final defeat to Waterford in August.

The St. Thomas' clubman has enjoyed much success as a manager in both hurling and football, despite having no football background. After a brief spell in charge of the Roscommon hurlers, the Kiltoom resident took charge of local club St. Brigid's and won a number of Roscommon SFC titles with them before moving across the Shannon and leading Garrycastle to a three-in-a-row of Westmeath SFC triumphs.

Cunningham will remain manager of Garrycastle until their involvement in the AIB Leinster club championship ends - they face Longford Slashers in the first round on November 13 and are one of the favourites to win the provincial crown after running Kilmacud Crokes close in last year's semi-final and losing the 2009 final to Portlaoise. Tweet

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