By Daragh Small
All-Star Cathal Mannion said that Galway are looking ahead and that issues over team management have been put to bed.
The Ahascragh-Fohenagh clubman, a key performer as Galway reached the All-Ireland final last year, said that the sole focus now was on improving on last season.
New manager Micheal Donoghue will take charge of the Tribesmen for the first time in the league when they take on Cork on Sunday, after a player heave ended Anthony Cunningham’s four seasons in charge.
“It’s just another year for us, regardless of who is over us,” said Mannion. “Everyone is working hard and we will stay improving for the championship and see where that gets us.
“There is no talk about it now, we have a new management in and all of that’s in the past so we have to move on.”
The 21-year old burst on the scene two years ago in the league against Dublin while his brother Padraic, a year older than him, made his debut in the opening game of the league last season against Clare.
The two were in action in midweek for NUIG when they bowed out of the Fitzgibbon Cup despite beating champions UL.
“It’s disappointing having two wins and still not getting out of the group. But that’s how competitive the Fitzgibbon Cup is. It will bring lads on for the year ahead.”
His focus now switches to Galway and the visit next Sunday of the Rebels to Pearse Stadium in Salthill for the opening match of the league.
“It will be full steam ahead for Galway in the league now, and we’ll go for it.
“Cork are always tough competitors and we’ll be treating it as a must-win game, because every game we go out in we want to win. So this Sunday will be no different.
“Obviously we want to win every game we go out, and we want to get a winning mentality. The league will be no different to the championship. We want to improve on every game and then we will be right for the championship.
“That’s what you want, good games every week. It will definitely bring you on but that is what you want at the end of the day.
“There’s a lot to be played before the summer so we will just keep our head down and keep working,” added the forward who scored a hat-trick in just eleven minutes against Dublin in the Leinster SHC quarter-finals last summer.
