Henry Shefflin keen to commit long-term future to Galway

Henry Shefflin has indicated to the Galway county board that he is willing to extend his term as the county's senior hurling manager beyond next season.

Shefflin agreed a three-year term as Tribes boss when he was named as Shane O'Neill's successor in October 2021 and the former Kilkenny star is to complete the remaining year of that term in 2024.

So far under Shefflin, Galway have lost successive Leinster finals to Kilkenny before going to reach All-Ireland semi-finals in both 2022 and '23, where Limerick proved too good on both occasions.

Galway GAA chairman Paul Bellew confirmed on Monday that Shefflin will be staying in place for next season and that both parties are now looking to extend the term into the 2025 season. An extension of his term would need to come before a meeting of the county committee

A statement from Bellew said: "Henry is on board for next year and we are looking at extending it beyond that. Henry has indicated a willingness for that and so have we, so now it's a matter of finding a mutually acceptable agreement. But it’s great he is on board and will continue the work carried out so far.

"We would hope to have it all wrapped up for the August meeting of the county committee. The four manager positions at U-17 and U-20 in football and hurling are all open as well as each of the managers have come to the end of their term."

Bellew also confirmed that Pádraig Joyce will remain in charge of the county's senior football squad for 2024, in what will be the second season of a three-year deal agreed after the Tribesmen reached the All-Ireland final in 2022.

There were high hopes that Joyce's side would again go deep in this year's championship but their season ended at All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final