Galvin: 'I'll be back!'

FOOTBALL fans will be relieved to learn that Croom’s John Galvin has committed himself to another season with Limerick.
When manager Mickey Ned O’Sullivan informed the Football Board last week that he did not wish to be considered for a sixth successive season in charge there were initial fears that John Galvin, widely and rightfully recognised as one of the best midfielders in the country, would call time on his glittering inter-county career.


The Croom stalwart, although stunned by Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s decision, told Leader Sport this week that, after careful consideration, he will pull on the Limerick jersey for at least one more season.
“I’ll be back, there’s no doubt about it,” the 30-year-old John Galvin said.
“I’ll be there again next year. I’m not waiting to see who the next manager is or anything like that. I’ll be there no matter what.”
From an emotional point of view the 2010 campaign was difficult for John Galvin to stomach. Galvin made his debut for Limerick in 1998, captained the Shannonsiders to a Munster under-21 football title in 2000 and inspired Limerick to Allianz National Football League division four honours last April when Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s side beat Waterford in the final at Croke Park, but has suffered defeat in four Munster senior finals - to Kerry in 2003 & 2004, to Cork in 2009 and to Kerry, once more, last July.
Indeed, considering how close Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s Limerick had come to winning a first Munster title since 1896 in Killarney John Galvin was surprised last Thursday when O’Sullivan broke the news to the Croom man personally.
“To be honest I was never expecting Mickey Ned to go. I was shocked really. I really thought he would come back and give it another year.
“That’s what everyone thought, but, obviously, Mickey Ned believes we need something new and that it was time for someone else to come in and have a go at it. He could be right.
“I’m disappointed that he is going, but in saying that there’s a big opportunity there now for someone to come in and do something with the team.”
And, Croom’s John Galvin does not expect the players to be consulted during the selection process by the Football Board.
“It’s all down to the Football Board really. Maybe when they get it down to a couple of names they might consult a couple of the players to see what they think at that stage, but at the end of the day the decision is their’s. The final decision will always rest with them,” John Galvin said.
John Galvin hopes that whoever assumes responsibility for the senior team will be able to inspire Limerick to footballing glory: “Hopefully whoever comes in will be able to takes us that bit further forward.
“We’ve come so close that maybe someone new might be able to help us take it that little bit further, to help us get over the line. It’s a great opportunity for any manager to come in.
“We’re very close to making a breakthrough, we’re very close as a squad and we’re ambitious.
“Maybe all we need is someone new to come in and get us over the line.”
Meanwhile the Independent Appointments Committee, charged with finding a successor to Justin McCarthy or re-appointing the Cork man as Limerick senior hurling manager, are still not prepared to make any public comment on their deliberations. The committee did conduct interviews in recent weeks with those nominated for the role while it remains to be seen if Damien Quigley, Paudie Fitzmaurice and Jim Woulfe will pin-point their own candidate. Former Cork manager Dónal O’Grady, for instance, has been strongly linked with the role.
It now looks likely that the Limerick manager may not be ratified at next month’s (September 14) meeting of the County Board.

Brian McDonnell