By John Fallon
The Galway hurling row looks set to rumble on into the winter with GAA officials in the county now seeking to appoint a mediator in a bid to resolve the dispute.
The draw for the 2016 championship is taking place this evening, but it looks like it could be some time before it is established who will be in charge of the All-Ireland finalists next season.
Neither manager Anthony Cunningham (pictured) nor the players who have passed a vote of no confidence in him show any sign of backing down and both now appear to have dug in for the long haul.
GAA officials in the county, who unanimously reappointed Cunningham for a fifth season two weeks ago, have still not come out in support of him since the dispute began.
Instead, a meeting of the Galway GAA management committee last night decided to appoint a mediator in an effort to find a resolution to the dispute which has divided the county.
“The management committee met last night to review the current impasse between the 2015 senior hurling panel and the current senior hurling management team,” said a statement from Galway GAA.
“The committee is cognisant of the view that both sides wishes to ensure that Galway has a cohesive and harmonious panel for 2016, based on the positive progress and achievements of the past year.
“Accordingly the committee has decided to seek an independent mediator in order to resolve this impasse.
“The Galway GAA management committee will do all in its power to bring this matter to a positive conclusion, as quickly as possible.”