Galway hurling saga guaranteed to drag on endlessly after latest development

Winter is coming and, in Galway at least, it looks set to be a long one.

With no sign of progress in the impasse between the senior hurlers and manager Anthony Cunningham, the county board has taken a decision that almost guarantees the whole affair drags on until you're eating turkey sandwiches in your new socks on St Stephen's Day. That's right, they're calling in an independent mediator. It is now two weeks since the players passed a vote of no confidence in Cunningham and the board reappointed him for a fifth year but now RTÉ are reporting that the management committee last night decided to call in an outside adjudicator.

“The management committee met last night to review the current impasse between the 2015 senior hurling panel and the current senior hurling management team. “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," read a statement. “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."

While the county board have yet to come out in support of Cunningham since learning of the players' dissatisfaction, last night's decision could easily see him stay in charge until the Walsh Cup starts. All very messy.