Henry Shefflin has left his role as Galway senior hurling manager after three seasons.
Hurling's most decorated player led the Tribesmen to the All-Ireland semi-finals in 2022 and 2023, but this year, they were disappointing after failing to qualify from the Leinster Championship round-robin.
The narrow loss to Limerick two years ago was a bright start for Shefflin in his first season in inter-county management, but just 12 months later, they lost by nine points to the same side.
This year's defeat to Dublin ended Galway's summer in late May, and the Kilkenny great moved on from the job today.
Galway GAA chairperson Paul Bellew thanked Shefflin for his time in charge.
"Henry has driven the highest standards possible during his tenure and left a lasting positive impact on our playing group and on Galway hurling. His mentality and will to win remains unmatched, and the group will reap the benefits of this," he said.
"We also want to thank and acknowledge the massive contribution of Richie O'Neill, Damien Joyce, Kevin Lally and, Eamon O’Shea and the wider background team for their efforts during Henry’s term."
Interestingly, it's been reported via the Irish Examiner that Galway will seek to hire Shefflin's candidate from inside the county. This would appear to rule out Davy Fitzgerald, who was hinting today he'd be open to a return to intercounty management when speaking to RTÉ today.
With all of that in mind, here are some possible contenders for the job if Shefflin's replacement does come from Galway.
🔈 MEDIA RELEASE 🔈
Henry Shefflin steps down as Galway Senior Hurling Manager
Read ⬇️https://t.co/tfWIWqxg0B pic.twitter.com/5lxP97b6Fr— Galway GAA Official (@Galway_GAA) July 3, 2024
Jeffrey Lynskey
The three-time All-Ireland minor hurling-winning manager in 2015, 2017 and 2018 should be in contention for the role as he has dealt with most of the players. However, his recent call to the county board to review their development structure and appointment process in the aftermath of a disappointing 2024 season might bite him.
18 August 2021; Galway manager Jeffrey Lynskey before the GAA Hurling All-Ireland U20 Championship Final match between Cork and Galway at Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Mattie Kenny
The Galway native did an impressive job with both Cuala and Dublin, so perhaps this is his time for the Galway job, especially after winning two All-Ireland club titles and two All-Ireland U21 as Tribesmen’s manager.
21 May 2022; Dublin manager Mattie Kenny before the start of the Leinster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 5 match between Galway and Dublin at Pearse Stadium in Galway. Photo by Ray Ryan/Sportsfile
READ MORE: Kyle Hayes Wins First Race As Jockey One Week Out From All-Ireland Semi-Final
Michéal Donoghue
The dream scenario would be that Galway’s most successful manager since Cyrill Farrell would return and get the last drop out of his 2017 All-Ireland winning side. But will O’Donoghue want to leave his Dublin project after reaching a Leinster final this year?
Kenneth Burke
It might be to early for the current Galway minor hurling manager but the current All-Ireland winning coach knows how to get the best out of the St Thomas' players and if that means keeping his brother David on for another year that's a bonus in itself
21 January 2024; St Thomas' manager Kenneth Burke celebrates after the AIB GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Club Championship Final match between O’Loughlin Gaels of Kilkenny and St. Thomas’ of Galway at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Eamonn O’Shea
He is already in the backroom team, lives in Galway, and has previously been an inter-county manager. It sounds like a simple solution to promote from within, but would he want the job? Is the real question the fact his son Donal is involved, and the possibility of managing against his native Tipperary may also be a factor.
20 January 2024; Galway manager Henry Shefflin speaks to coach Eamonn O'Shea during the Dioralyte Walsh Cup semi-final match between Dublin and Galway at Parnell Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile
