Eamonn Fitzmaurice has been announced as the new Galway senior football manager for a three-year term.
Reports emerged late on Tuesday evening that the All-Ireland winning footballer and manager for Kerry is on the verge of taking over the position left vacant by Pádraig Joyce in early September. Fitzmaurice’s link with Galway has been reported by the Irish Examiner, where he has been a long-time columnist and contributor.
It spells a dramatic U-turn for the Finuge clubman who has been out of the inter-county game since he stepped down from the Kerry job in 2018. He has remained involved in the club scene in his native Kerry, coaching the Clifford brothers at Fossa to a junior All-Ireland title in 2023. Only last month, he was back involved as coach with his native Finuge, claiming the Kerry JFC title, beating Knocknagoshel in the final.
Fitzmaurice's credentials speak for themselves in the inter-county game. A three-time All-Ireland winner as a player, he managed Kerry for six years between 2013 and 2018, leading the Kingdom to Sam Maguire glory in 2014. He also claimed six straight Munster SFC titles and an Allianz League title during his time in charge.
His appointment represents an impressive coup for the Tribesmen. It is understood the Kerry native engaged positively with Galway chairman Paul Bellew in recent weeks before emerging as the leading candidate to take charge of the Tribesmen's senior footballers.
Fitzmaurice has rebuffed inter-county approaches since 2018. That he was receptive to taking the helm in Galway suggests a belief this squad can claim a first Sam Maguire in 26 years.
He is taking over an undoubtedly talented squad who have failed to live up to their potential in recent All-Ireland campaigns. It's imperative they better utilise the raft of progressive changes to Gaelic football. The fact Fitzmaurice played a prominent role in those rule changes is encouraging.
He was one of the most prominent members of the Football Review Committee, which introduced, trialled and refined the new playing rules that many see as having a revitalising effect on the game since their introduction.
How Fitzmaurice balances his school principal duties and the two-and-a-half hour drives to Loughgeorge will be interesting.
The Kerry man is taking over the position that was left vacant upon Joyce's departure on September 3.
Appointed to the role in October 2019 ahead of the 2020 season, the Killererin clubman led Galway to two All-Ireland Senior Football Final appearances in 2022 and 2024. As manager, Joyce also led Galway to four Connacht Senior Football titles in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Among those linked to the position in recent weeks was former Dublin manager Jim Gavin, Kevin O’Brien, the three-time All-Ireland-winning club manager with Corofin, and Kevin Johnston, the current U-20 manager.
