CUNNING PLAN WORKED
Hayes says time has proved Tribe hurlers right
THE passage of time has shown that the decision to oust Anthony Cunningham as Galway manager was correct.
So says Tribe legend Damien Hayes, who played under Cunningham in the 2012 All-ireland finals.
Current boss Micheal Donoghue replaced Cunningham in late 2015 after the former Galway player was pushed out by disgruntled players.
Now Galway are two wins away from a successful All-ireland title defence – their first since 1988.
Cunningham led Galway to All-ireland finals in 2012 and 2015 but Hayes said: “The players did what they did and it has been a successful move.
“The players knew the standards, they knew where they wanted to get to, they knew what was required.
“They did what they felt was right for them and what was right for Galway hurling. And they went on and won an All-ireland.
“The goal was to win an All-ireland, and that’s why they did it. I stood over what they did. A lot of lads didn’t, but I said, ‘Well done’ to the lads.”
Hayes made light of the claim that such a move could have led to divisions within the squad.
The three-time All-star said: “But it didn’t. So it’s irrelevant. The players did what they felt was right.”
Hayes – a Portumna club mate of the 2017 Hurler of the Year Joe Canning (inset) – feels the players who made the stand against Cunningham in 2015 were wrongly criticised at the time.
He said: “You have to remember, with Donoghue they could have won the All-ireland the very first season, with only half a season’s training. “Then the second year they won the All-ireland. And now they’re in their third year. “This team – it’s almost the same core of players – could potentially be going for four All-irelands.
“Four years ago, they didn’t turn up in the second-half of the final against Kilkenny, the same group of players. Then Micheal Donoghue’s first year, they got beaten by an unbelievable goal by ‘Bubbles’ O’dwyer of Tipperary.
“Last year they won the All-ireland and here we are now this year.
“I’ve always said the players have been there to do it, and I’ll always support the players.
“They’re a great bunch, they’re amateur players, they give their own time.”
Hayes claims that if Galway play near to their potential in the remainder of the Championship they will retain the Maccarthy Cup.
“It’s not just me saying it, Galway are genuinely the best team out there.
“But they need to be very careful of this Clare team. Clare will be really up for this game. But I still think it’s Galway’s All-ireland to lose.”