Sammon emerges as chief candidate to succeed Ford

Liam Sammon has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Peter Ford as Galway football manager. The county football board, chaired by Pat Egan, last night convened a committee to nominate the new manager, with recruiting someone from within the county seemingly a priority. The previous two managers, Ford and John O'Mahony, are Mayo natives.

Sammon seems to fit the bill after an illustrious playing career, followed by years of commitment to building a strong underage football structure in Galway, primarily with Salthill-Knocknacarra and St Mary's College.

Another indication of his availability is his recent retirement from secondary-school teaching.

His last notable achievement was to guide St Mary's to the All-Ireland colleges final in 2005. The Hogan Cup was, however, claimed by Carlow's Knockbeg College, inspired by the current Laois forward Donie Brennan.

Sammon played at corner forward, while still a teenager, on the Galway team that beat Meath in the All-Ireland final in 1966. He featured in three more All-Ireland finals - 1971, 1973 and 1974 - captaining Galway from midfield and centre forward in the first two and operating at full forward when Dublin made their breakthrough under Kevin Heffernan in 1974. He went on to assist Heffernan in the 1986 International Rules series in Australia.

Perhaps his most notable achievement was the laying of a solid foundation for Salthill-Knocknacarra, alongside Tony Regan, throughout the 1980s.

The club had been known traditionally as one that sourced most of its talent outside the city, but Sammon and Regan played a substantial role in encouraging a more community-reliant ethos.

Their endeavours came to fruition with a first county title in 1990, followed by progress to the All-Ireland club final the following March, when they were beaten by the Derry champions Lavey.

Sammon also wrote a coaching booklet in 2003.

Salthill-Knocknacarra finally attained the national title last year, with Eoin O'Donnellan as manager - another potential candidate for the job. O'Donnellan was a selector under Ford, as was Pete Warren, who was also part of John O'Mahony's back room.

There seems, however, to be a desire within Galway to wipe the slate clean after six unsuccessful championship campaigns since the All-Ireland success of 2001.

Although annually considered contenders for the All-Ireland title, Galway have slipped to second-tier status with defeats to Sligo and Westmeath in recent seasons.

Another candidate being mentioned is Dessie Dolan senior, though he has seemingly committed to Leitrim for another season, while Caltra's 2004 All-Ireland winning manager, Frank Doherty, may also throw his hat into the ring.