ALAN MULHOLLAND CALLED an end to his three year term in charge of the Galway senior footballers last Thursday. Football in the county was on a worrying decline before his appointment, but he oversaw the restoration of some pride and optimism during his time in charge.
There will be far more suitors to replace Mulholland than there was when he assumed the reigns from Tomas O’Flaharta in the winter of 2011, a testament to what he achieved.
But what exactly will he be remembered for?
Improved championship record
In the three years before Mulholland took over, Galway had won a grand total of three championship games – against London, Sligo and New York. They hadn’t appeared in a Connacht final since 2009 and they hadn’t played a game in Croke Park since 2008.
Liam Sammon’s 2009 departure saw Galway’s star rapidly decline in the following two years.
Joe Kernan (2010) and Tomas O’Flaharta (2011) both endured difficult campaigns in charge and were booted out after less than 12 months in charge. Galway’s Connacht quarter-final win over New York in 2010 was their only championship win over the two years under Kernan and O’Flaharta.
Although he had a shaky start in 2012 (where they beat Roscommon before losing to Sligo and Antrim), Mulholland guided the Tribesmen to six championship victories in the last two years. In fact, the only sides Galway lost out to in the championship since 2013 were Mayo (twice), Cork and Kerry.
They made it to Croke Park two years in succession and put an end to Galway’s horrible record in the qualifiers. Galway hadn’t won a game in the qualifiers since 2004, but Mulholland led them to wins over Tipperary (twice), Waterford and Armagh during his reign.
Stability
Mulholland became Galway’s fourth manager in as many years when he succeeded Kernan in the winter of 2011. The Salthill/Knocknacarra club man arrived with an impressive CV, having led the Tribesmen to the All-Ireland minor title in 2007 and the U21 crown in 2011.
The advantage in his appointment was that he had already coached many of the players during his previous roles as U16, minor and U21 boss and he brought a great deal of continuity with him,
After a turbulent few years before his appointment, there can be no doubt that Mulholland’s continuity left Galway in a far better condition than when he found them.
Faith in youth
During his three years, Mulholland loaded his team with graduates from Galway’s underage squads.
He built a side back-boned by youth. Against Kerry in quarter-final, they lined out with six starters from their winning U21 teams of 2011 and 2013, while a further two were introduced from the bench.
In particular, Thomas Flynn and Fiontan Ó Curraoin are blossoming into one of the best midfield partnerships in the country, while Shane Walsh is one of the most exciting forwards to burst onto the scene in recent years.
Mulholland must take huge credit in the trio’s development as footballers as well as the fact that so many other youngsters have managed to establish themselves in the starting fifteen.
