No confidence vote ends Keane’s Limerick reign

DAVE KEANE had his two-year contract as manager of the Limerick Senior Hurling team terminated last evening after a vote of no confidence.

In a letter to the county board, Keane listed 15 points on his stewardship at ways to get Limerick back on track next season.

But delegates were not convinced and it was proposed by Anthony McGann of Mungret that the contract be terminated.

Keane had suggested that he would only continue in office with the two out going selectors John Meskell and Dave Punch as well as trainer Pat O’Callaghan.

The chairman of the county board Pat Fitzgerald called for a vote and the motion proposed by Pat McGann was carried by 61 votes to 18.

lThe decision on whether the coach to the Cork Senior Football team for the coming year will have the right to name his own selectors has been delayed.

The decision was due to be taken last night but was deferred to the next meeting of the county board.

A proposal from Beara delegate Mick Reynolds, couched in the form of a notice of motion, that the new coach be granted the choice of picking his own selectors, was put on hold at Mr Reynolds’ request.

The Beara representative said that in light of Cork’s involvement in Sunday’s All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final it would be best to hold over the debate until the next meeting.

Central Council representative Bob Honohan, who has also tabled a notice of motion which recommends that the new coach should have the option of picking his own selectors or passing that function onto another body, agreed with Mr Reynolds’ stance and the Board unanimously agreed.

At an earlier board meeting the seven man committee, including four board officers, chairman Jim Forbes, secretary Frank Murphy, treasurer Pearse Murphy, youth officer Jimmy Murphy and three members of the board Bob Honohan, Finbarr Hennessy, and Denis Owens, was set up to appoint a new coach and selectors.

Meanwhile Graham Geraghty did not contest the 48-week suspension imposed on him by the Meath County Board at a meeting last week.

Neither the two time Allstar, nor any representative of the Seneschalstown club were in attendance after he was reported by Dunshaughlin referee Jim Smith for alleged physical and verbal abuse in the aftermath of a recent club match.

Geraghty, who captained the Royals to an All-Ireland title in 1999, was sent off after picking up two yellow cards in a SFC tie against Ballivor.

“His case was heard last Wednesday evening and his club and himself did not attend that meeting of the County Board,” PRO Barry Gorman confirmed last night.

“The county board wrote to him to the tell him about the meeting but he did not respond and neither did anyone from Seneschalstown.

“He was given the full suspension in a case like this and he was suspended for pushing and verbally abusing the referee.

“For such a talented player, it is an awful situation and it may bring down the curtain on his career. He is out of club football and intercounty football for almost the next year and if Meath were to win an All-Ireland it would be very hard to get back on a championship winning team. He will be a huge loss.”

On the issue of the intercounty team, Gorman said the management issue has yet to be finalised, with current boss Sean Boylan yet to decide on his future involvement.

Former Sligo player James Kearins has succeeded Peter Ford as Sligo’s senior manager. The appointment of Kearins, which had been rumoured to happen for some weeks, was ratified unanimously at a meeting of the Sligo GAA County Board.