LEADING LIGHTS

Donoghue lands Manager of the Year gong and says Galway CAN repeat their success of last season

MICHEAL DONOGHUE believes that what the Galway hurlers have built means their All Ireland success won’t be a one-off - even with a “target on their back” in 2018.

The Tribesman boss acknowledges that side will be marked men after bringing home the Liam Maccarthy Cup for the first time since 1988.

But after landing the Phillips Lights Manager of the Year award in Dublin yesterday, Donoghue is confident that the All-ireland champions can hold their own next year.

“I’ve no doubt we go in next year with a target on our back because we’ve won it,” he said.

“But I think what we developed over the last two seasons, we’re not going to deviate too much from it in terms of the principles and standards we’ve set.

“Both the management team and players will have to continue to raise those standards. We’ve a highly motivated group and we’ll be ready.”

Donoghue, who previously played for Galway and managed Clarinbridge to the All-ireland club title, is a quietly spoken individual.

But he let his emotions come to the fore after beating the likes of top horse trainer Aidan O’brien and three-in-a-row All-ireland football title winner Jim Gavin to the coveted award.

“Genuinely a shock, just with the calibre of people there,” said Donoghue. “The likes of Aidan O’brien, Jim Gavin and John Caulfield (right). I was shocked when the name was called out but privileged to get

What we have developed over the last two seasons, we are not going to deviate away too much