The Galway hurling board last night cleared the way for Conor Hayes to be reappointed as senior manager for a third year. Such a decision had become a formality given the withdrawal of other candidates Matt Murphy and Noel Lane, which effectively ensured the ratification of Hayes once the hurling board gave their approval.

Hayes's term of office expired this summer, and a week ago a sub-committee recommended Murphy for the job but this was turned down by the hurling board.

County secretary Bernie O'Connor said that last week's meeting was effectively a vote of confidence in Hayes. "Conor Hayes is a big name around here and I was in no doubt that once his name went to the floor, he'd get support.

"The sub-committee was a seven-man review body given the power to pick people to interview. There was no power to appoint the manager. That always had to be decided by the delegates."

In response to last week's vote Murphy withdrew his candidacy. Lane had withdrawn earlier and although there was speculation he would renew his interest, Hayes was the only name to go forward last night.

Hayes, captain of the Galway teams that won back-to-back All-Irelands in 1987-'88, will now have an opportunity to build on last season's National Hurling League success and to atone for a poor display against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland qualifier series.

Meanwhile, Dominic Corrigan has been appointed manager of the Sligo footballers. The former Fermanagh manager was confirmed in the post last night. He succeeds James Kearins, who stepped down after a disagreement over whether the county should enter the Tommy Murphy Cup, the competition for less successful counties.

Corrigan, whose appointment is for one year, will also take charge of the county's Under-21 and junior teams. Paul Durcan and Niall Egan were named as selectors with the third selector to be appointed later.

Corrigan had a successful period with his own county Fermanagh, leading them to their first national semi-final in 70 years during the 2003 National Football League and also to that year's All-Ireland quarter-final.

The county built on these achievements this year to go a step further and reach the All-Ireland semi-final where they lost to Mayo after a replay.

All-Ireland hurling champions Cork will play their football counterparts Kerry in a football match to help raise funds for the holiday funds of both counties. The challenge will be held under lights at Cork's Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday at 7.30 p.m.

Four of Cork's All-Ireland winning team, Diarmuid O'Sullivan, Seán Ó hAilpín, Tom Kenny and Brian Corcoran, have played senior championship football for the county.

The Connacht GAA Writers' Personality of the Month award for October has gone to Annette Clarke, who captained Galway to a first senior All-Ireland women's football title last month.

A student at the Garda College in Templemore, Clarke also captained her club, Kilkerrin-Clonberne, to an All-Ireland intermediate championship title in 1999 and has since won many honours at county level, including All-Ireland senior and junior medals, National League (Division Two), and an All-Star award last Saturday night.