O’Kelly back in frame for Carlow post

PAUL O’KELLY’S name dramatically resurfaced last night as the man most likely to be appointed next Carlow senior football boss.

O’Kelly had ruled himself out of the position late last month, but that situation has changed over the last few days and sources in the county are now insisting that he is increasingly likely to take on the role.

Should the Edenderry native be appointed it would end one of the longest courtships in recent GAA history.

His name was first mooted as a successor to Mickser Condon last April when the county suddenly found itself without a manager just weeks before their Leinster Championship opener against Longford in Tullamore.

However, a hectic schedule that involved training underage teams in his home town, as well as involvement with Clonsilla’s Round Towers, saw him withdraw from the race at the time.

O’Kelly was a clear favourite to succeed Luke Dempsey in the bainisteor’s bib last month when he was spotted in the crowd at the county final but again he ruled himself out of contention.

Aside from O’Kelly, Carlow have been linked with a succession of other contenders, including John O’Mahony, Tommy Lyons, newly-appointed Kilkenny hurling selector Mick Dempsey and new Laois U21 manager Seán Dempsey - all to no avail.

With so much speculation and so little action, the county board have been heavily criticised within the county, a situation not helped by Lyons’ very public slap on the wrists for having his name linked with the job.

A local business consortium was also reported to be willing to inject e1m into football and hurling and football within the county, although county chairman Eddie Byrne has claimed the figure was nearer the €100,000 mark.

Not too far to the north-west, in Offaly, there is also news of movement in filling one of the country’s last remaining managerial slots. It’s been two months since Mike McNamara decided against taking up a third year at the helm of the senior hurlers.

Since then, the brouhaha over the footballers’ strike and appointment of Kevin Kilmurray have hogged the headlines, but officials in the county are hopeful of making an announcement within the next few days.

“We are coming close to a conclusion in finding a new manager,” said one source.

“We are hoping to have something in place early next week.” Unlike the situation with Carlow, there hasn’t been a host of likely candidates bandied about to take over a side that will start next season in Division Two of the NHL.

Former county star Michael Duignan, who helped coach the side for last year’s championship campaign, was the early favourite for the post, but the former Meath manager ruled himself out due to business commitments. The only other name to be seriously suggested since has been former Tipperary player and Clarinbridge manager John McIntyre.

Meanwhile, Leinster boss Luke Dempsey has made three changes for tomorrow’s M Donnelly Interprovincial Football Championship final in Paris.

Westmeath’s Damien Healy misses out due to club commitments, while county teammate John Keane is recovering from a minor operation. Their places in the back line are taken by Dublin’s Bryan Cullen and Westmeath’s Donal O’Donoghue. Nigel Crawford of Meath replaces Louth’s Paddy Keenan in midfield while Mattie Forde will play despite suffering from a recent throat infection.

LEINSTER (v Ulster): G Connaughton (Westmeath); N McKeigue (Meath), D O’Donoghue (Westmeath), K Slattery (Offaly); B Cullen (Dublin), T Kelly (capt, Laois), K Fitzpatrick (Laois); N Garvan (Laois), N Crawford (Meath); E Kelly (Meath), P Barden (Longford), J Doyle (Kildare); A Brogan (Dublin), P Kellaghan (Offaly), M Forde (Wexford).