Galway manager Micheál Donoghue pays tribute to his coaches and team’s support staff
MICHEÁL Donoghue has the opportunity to become a two-time Liam MacCarthy Cup-winning manager when Galway take to the field on Sunday afternoon against Limerick.
Donoghue has guided the Tribesmen to their third All-Ireland final during his time in charge. In his first spell as Galway manager, from 2016 to 2019, he ended the county's 29-year wait for All-Ireland success by leading them to Liam MacCarthy glory in 2017. A year later, Galway returned to the decider but suffered a narrow defeat to Limerick.
The Clarinbridge native spent two seasons as Dublin senior hurling manager in 2023 and 2024 before returning for a second spell with Galway last year.
Only Cyril Farrell has managed Galway to more All-Ireland finals, and Donoghue is continuing to strengthen his case as one of the county's greatest-ever hurling managers.
His trusted selectors, Francis Forde and Noel Larkin, have remained alongside him throughout his managerial journey, serving with him during both of his Galway spells as well as his time with Dublin.
Forde and Larkin have played a significant role in shaping Galway's game plan this season, alongside former Galway hurlers Aidan Harte, Damien Joyce and Cyril Donnellan, who complete an experienced and influential backroom team.
“We probably know each other inside out and upside down. There’s a good chemistry between us and Harty [Aidan Harte], Cyril [Donnellan], Damien Joyce and I think everyone that’s involved. From my perspective, from the S&C and medical, I think it’s the best people available,” Donoghue told Tribune Sport at Galway’s media day ahead of the All-Ireland final.
“I think the players will be testament to that. Everyone has a role and everyone is playing a massive contribution and no one’s role is bigger than anyone else. For ourselves, Franny on the coaching side, he’s a top coach and I think he’s getting better and better. We’ve put a lot of work in ourselves in the off-season and the work he’s putting in on the pitch with the lads and the chemistry he has and the trust – going both ways – is really evident. It’s going really well.”
Donoghue admitted that Galway's approach needed to change following last year's All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Tipperary.
“I think for us, after last season, we acknowledged we probably had to go in a different direction. As a management team, we put a lot of work in the off-season. So, by the time we came back for pre-season, we were ready to go. The lads are absolutely full of energy and they’re so mad into hurling, it’s massive,” added the Galway manager.
Donoghue is well aware of the opportunity that awaits Galway on Sunday afternoon, but he also believes it is important to keep the team's youthful age profile in perspective.
“It’s been good progress and I think it’s a good point that supporters have to recognise that there’s a nice [age] profile in the squad. This year has gone really well, we’ve won Leinster and had a good win in the semi-final. And now we have the opportunity to go for the All-Ireland in two weeks’ time. As I said way back, these lads have a good few years ahead of them and it’s not all or now. Sometimes in Galway that happens.
“Perceptions are out there and even ye boys [the media] there has to be an understanding of where we are and what we’re trying to build and the longevity in that. The young fellas have amassed great experience over the last few weeks. Collectively, we 100 per cent recognise the opportunity that we have and that’s not lost on us.
"And there will be nothing lost in our preparation over the next two weeks to go and have a right cut at it. I said it a few weeks ago, there’s a great group there and they’ll have the opportunity over the next few years.”
2018 was the last time Galway faced Limerick under Donoghue in championship action when they were narrowly 3-16 to 2-18 in the All-Ireland final. Since then, John Kiely’s charges have gone on to win five All-Ireland SHC titles.
“Yeah, absolutely, they’ve had a very successful period. They’re the standard-bearers and you just have to be full of admiration for the consistency that they’ve shown and the hunger and desire is still at the same level. But for us, it’s very much focusing on ourselves for the next two weeks and trying to build to a great performance,” said Donoghue.
Rory Burke remains an injury concern with a hamstring issue heading into the All-Ireland final. Burke was forced off with a hamstring injury in the first half during the Leinster final and he also missed the All-Ireland semi-final win over Cork.
“Everyone knows it’s a hamstring injury. He’s working really hard with the medical team. It’s just time and see how the next two weeks go for him.”
Five members of the current Galway senior hurling panel featured in the county's last All-Ireland final appearance: Dáithí Burke, Pádraic Mannion, Conor Whelan, Cathal Mannion and Conor Cooney. Their experience of the biggest stage is expected to be invaluable as Galway prepare for Sunday's All-Ireland final.
“They’re the best coaches we have. They’re sharing their experiences with the younger fellas and giving them great guidance. Hopefully that’ll continue for another few weeks.”
For the majority of the Galway squad, they will head into the biggest day of the hurling calendar for the first time this weekend.
“We talked about the transition and the chemistry they have with the more experienced fellas. It’s been really good. They’ve had the experience of playing in the Leinster final and an All-Ireland semi-final with a full house. They’ve that under the belt as they look forward to the final. Hopefully, it’ll stand to them,” concluded Donoghue.