Galway have confirmed Anthony Cunningham as John McIntyre’s successor in the role of senior hurling manager.
Cunningham, who all week had been expected to be sworn into the role, found himself confirmed as the new Tribesmen head man following a Galway Hurling Board meeting on Thursday evening.
Tom Helebert and Mattie Kenny will be part of his management team, the latest troop charged with trying to form the huge potential in the Galway camp into a successful team in the heat of the championship.
St Thomas clubman Cunningham has experience of bringing Liam McCarthy home to Galway as a player. He won All-Ireland medals in 1987 and 1988, while also claiming national titles at Minor and U21 level.
He later brought his success into the management game, by claiming county and provincial football success with Roscommon club St Brigid's, before returning to hurling to take Galway to the 2010 U21 championship final - where they lost out to an awesome Tipperary side - and going one better with victory over Dublin in the 2011 decider.
He currently sits in charge of Westmeath club Garrycastle’s footballers, who he steered to a third successful county title this year. Cunningham is likely to remain within that post until their participation in the AIB Club football championship comes to an end.
A humbling All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Waterford brought Galway's 2011 championship to an end in a season in which they were also well beaten by Dublin in the Leinster championship.