The Galway hurling crisis has deepened after talks between manager Anthony Cunningham, the players and the county board broke down.

A statement from Galway GAA this morning confirmed that the mediation process had failed and the dispute will now be discussed at a county board meeting next Monday night.

The Galway players passed a motion of no confidence in Cunningham after he was reappointed for a fifth year by the county board in the wake of September's All-Ireland final defeat to Kilkenny.

Cunningham, whose position now looks untenable, won't be travelling with the team to Boston for next week's exhibition game against Dublin in Fenway Park.

According to a statement from Galway GAA, the mediation process has concluded and the Independent Mediator has determined that despite best efforts, there was little, if no, possibility of the parties reaching common agreement on the substantive issue”.