Fitzmaurice expected to be named Galway football manager this evening
EAMONN FITZMAURICE is expected to be named as Galway senior football manager this evening.
The Irish Examiner reported on Tuesday evening that Fitzmaurice was set to make a return to inter-county management and was in line to become the new Galway senior football manager. Galway GAA have now confirmed to Tribune Sport that the Kerry native will succeed Padraic Joyce and his appointment is expected to be announced this evening.
Fitzmaurice’s last inter-county managerial role came with Kerry, where he spent six seasons in charge and guided the Kingdom to All-Ireland glory in 2014. During his time at the helm, Fitzmaurice came up against one of the greatest Dublin teams of the modern era and also guided Kerry to six Munster titles and one National League crown.
The Kerry native also enjoyed a decorated inter-county playing career, lining out for his county from 1996 until 2007. He won three All-Ireland medals as a player and faced Galway in the 2000 All-Ireland final.
It is understood that Galway GAA chairman Paul Bellew met with Fitzmaurice on a number of occasions before his appointment was agreed.
Since stepping away from Kerry in 2018, Fitzmaurice has remained heavily involved in club football in the Kingdom, working with Fossa in recent years.In 2022, he was part of the Fossa backroom team that guided the club to Kerry, Munster and All-Ireland Junior Football Championship success. Last month, Fitzmaurice was involved in a coaching capacity with his club Finuge as they won the Kerry Junior Football Championship.
He has also worked with teams at Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne, guiding the school to Hogan Cup success in 2014, and is currently principal of the school. Fitzmaurice is now set to make the regular journey from Kerry to Galway as he takes on the role with the Tribesmen.
Away from the inter-county game, Fitzmaurice has also worked with RTÉ as a match analyst during the Championship and National League, while he has written a column for the Irish Examiner.
Padraic Joyce stepped down as Galway senior football manager earlier this month after seven years in charge.During his tenure, Joyce guided Galway to four consecutive Connacht titles and led the Tribesmen to All-Ireland finals in 2022 and 2024, where they suffered narrow defeats to Kerry and Armagh respectively.
It is understood that Fitzmaurice will finalise his Galway senior football backroom team in the coming weeks, with his appointment set to generate considerable interest among Galway supporters. The new Galway football manager is expected to be in attendance for next weekend’s Galway Senior Football Championship semi-finals. The Kerry man also played a key role in the development of Gaelic football in recent years through his work on the Football Rules Committee.