Carlow confident Hayes won’t apply for Royal appointment

Brendan O’Brien

The former Royal midfielder was one of eight men Sean Boylan included nominated to take over the Meath footballers next season, but it remains to be seen how many of that group allow their names to go forward to the interview stage.

Hayes was reappointed Carlow boss only yesterday week.

As was the case last year, he will operate without any specified term but he is already planning for next season with the Barrowsiders by scouring the county senior, intermediate and junior championships.

Hayes made an impassioned speech at last week's county board meeting, emphasising the need for the clubs and county board to act in unison.

"Liam said he was eager to stay on as long as the county board wanted him," said Carlow PRO Tommy Murphy.

"Liam wants, he feels, that he can something with this Carlow team."

Meanwhile, an eight-man task force has been set up to appoint a manager and selectors for the Tipperary senior hurling team.

Manager Ken Hogan, along with selectors Colm Bonnar and Jack Bergin, completed their two-year contract with the defeat by Galway in the All-Ireland quarter-final.

It is not clear as yet if they are seeking to be reappointed.

The task force is headed by Donal Shanahan, chairman of the county board, and includes the board executive, and the four divisional board chairmen in the county.

The group is expected to meet later this week to begin the process.

At a meeting of the board this week, Shanahan, responding to questions from delegates, denied there had been a problem regarding the captaincy of the team that lost to Galway.

He also denied rumours that there had been interference by players in the selection of the team for the game.

Meanwhile, Tipperary's Tommy Murphy Cup football semi-final against Roscommon, scheduled for Saturday at Semple Stadium, Thurles, had been deferred to the same venue next Tuesday evening.

The postponement is at the request of Roscommon, who have difficulties with club fixtures at the weekend.