Loughnane confirmed as Galway manager
After weeks of speculation, Ger Loughnane has been officially ratified as Galway's new senior hurling manager.
The former Clare boss was confirmed as the man chosen to succeed Conor Hayes at last night's meeting of the Galway Hurling Board in Portumna.
Speaking after his appointment, Loughnane said he was privileged to take over the Galway helm and would do his best to make the county a major force in hurling again.
"All you can do is put the best possible team in place and then get the best possible team on the field when it really counts at the business end of the year," he said.
"That's exactly what we're aiming to do. We're here to win and with the kind of set-up we have, we are very, very confident that we'll get the very best out of the players we have this year."
He will have a management team consisting of former All-Star winning Galway hurlers Sean Treacy and Brendan Lynskey, as well as Sarsfields selector Michael Murray.
Treacy, whose coaching expertise saw Portumna claim the All-Ireland club title last March, will be Loughnane's assistant manager.
It is a full six years since Loughnane was last involved with an inter-county hurling team - his beloved Clare. He led the Banner men to All-Ireland SHC glory in both 1995 and 1997.
The 52-year-old, who was born in Feakle, got the backing of the Galway players earlier this month when they released a statement to the press, which underlined their eagerness for Loughnane to assume control of the panel.
The Tribesmen's wish has been granted and their first 'outside' manager since Babs Keating (1979) is to waste no time in setting the wheels in motion for next season.
Galway have not won the Liam McCarthy Cup since 1988 and Loughnane is certain to leave no stone unturned as he seeks to end that frustrating wait.
He said: "We (the management) have arranged a meeting for Thursday night and we will start from there. We know the type of player we are looking for.”
