Micheál Donoghue has revealed details of his management team as he returns for a second term at the helm as Galway manager.
The Clarinbridge native won an All-Ireland during his last stint as Galway boss before taking over Dublin for the last two seasons.
Ironically, one of the highlights of his Dublin tenure was defeating Galway in the championship this year with an impressive victory in Salthill.
In the mean-time, there has been plenty of moving parts with Henry Shefflin departing the Galway hot-seat before Donoghue left the Dublin job.
But he keenly stressed in a Galway Bay FM interview last night that those two weren't linked, insisting instead that the decision to leave Dublin was made independent of the Galway job's availability.
"It's great to be back. It's been a frantic few weeks," said Donoghue.
"And it's a great honour for myself (and selectors), Noel (Larkin) and Frannie (Forde). Obviously they've been with me throughout the journey we've had to date."
"It's really only happened in the last couple of weeks," he said.
"Everyone just presumed one and one was two. From our perspective, it was nice to be in the frame. But what's important to us is that everything was done in the right manner."
Donoghue hailed the Dublin players and county board and predicts good things to come from their hurling team.
"It was brilliant to work with a brilliant group of players," he said.
"They're a young squad, a young squad that's on the right trajectory.
"It was an invaluable experience, and it brought us out of our comfort zone, and everything associated with Dublin county board was top class as well."
His management team in Galway will include his two loyal lieutenants Forde and Larkin - both of whom were involved when Galway won in 2017 - and says they have progressed further since then.
"I'm fortunate to be back here, but I'm doubly fortunate to have Frannie and Noel with me.
"Frannie is a top coach and I'd say for everyone that's going to be involved, he's gone up three or four more gears since he was here the last time.
"Noel similarly, is a valuable selector, but also does a good bit of work on the pitch as well."
The two new faces from Donoghue's perspective are Eamon O'Shea and Aidan Harte. Former Tipperary manager, player and coach O'Shea was a part of Henry Shefflin's backroom team last year with his son Donal a member of the panel.
19 August 2018; Aidan Harte of Galway dejected after the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final match between Galway and Limerick at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Donoghue says he has 'broke his heart I don't know how many times trying to get him in,' and is delighted to have him on board.
"The relationship I have with Eamon goes a long way back, he used to do the odd session with me for Clarinbridge.
"He gave me the opportunity to go down to Tipperary and that was invaluable for my journey and where I wanted to go. Since then, he's been an unbelievable mentor.
"I've broke his heart I don't know how many times trying to get him in. He's been brilliant. It's taken me about ten years to get him."
Aidan Harte was wing back on Donoghue's All-Ireland winning team before going onto become a successful coach himself, with Tulla, the Clare under-20s and Crusheen.
"Absolutely delighted to have Harte on board. He's a top guy. Over the last few years, he’s forging his own career in coaching. He’s been with Clare U20s, he’s been with Crusheen and he’s made a huge mark with them.
“As soon as I met him and had a chat, we had him at ‘hello’!
"He’s so dialled in and we’re absolutely delighted to have him on board. He’s going to be class," said Donoghue.
