Ford takes over in Galway

Peter Ford was installed as Galway football manager yesterday on a three-year term after the former Sligo boss saw off genuine challenges from Brian Talty and Frank Doherty.

Although a Mayo man, Ford has strong connections to the county as his father hails from Kinvara and played hurling for Galway. Also, he is currently a secondary school teacher in Headford.

Ford will be allowed to choose two selectors, after consultation with the county board, and will begin the role when his duties with native club Ballinrobe and as Connacht Railway Cup trainer, ironically alongside his predecessor John O'Mahony, are concluded.

"We are very happy with Peter," said football chairman Pat Egan. "There were three good candidates, but his intercounty record speaks for itself."

It was Ford's exemplary record at intercounty level that convinced the six-man selection committee, which comprised county chairman Frank Burke, John Joe Halloran, Jack Mahon, Micheál MacDonncha, Caltra chairman J P Kelly and Egan.

The three-year stint with Sligo never yielded a provincial title but did produce plenty of upsets on the qualifier trail, beating Tyrone and Kildare, in Croke Park, while forcing eventual All-Ireland champions Armagh to a replay in the 2002 quarter-finals.

On the disciplinary front, this Sunday's Galway senior hurling semi-final between Athenry and Gort has been postponed to allow the county Games Administration Committee an opportunity to study a video of the violent scenes that marred Athenry's quarter-final victory over Loughrea. Although the club is unlikely to be removed from the championship, several players may be facing disciplinary action.

Meanwhile, the Offaly senior hurlers are expected to release a statement in support of their striking football brethren later today after the two panels met this week.