Offaly hit by number of high-profile resignations

THE Offaly County Board has been hit by a number of high-profile resignations. The departures of a number of Edenderry officials follows the sacking of Offaly senior football boss, and their fellow clubman, Paul O’Kelly.

Coaching co-ordinator Aidan Burke; referee’s co-ordinator John Dillon, and coaching and games development committee member Tom Reilly have all sent letters of resignation to a recent management meeting of the county board.

Edenderry official John O’Reilly has also expressed his displeasure at O’Kelly’s treatment by deciding to give up refereeing for the remainder of the year. O’Reilly is one of the county’s top referees and was in charge of last year’s SFC final between Tullamore and Gracefield.

The Edenderry club are furious at the sacking of O’Kelly, who managed them to a county title in 1985. Former Derry coach Eamonn Coleman has been appointed as Cavan senior and U21 team manager for a three-year period.

Coleman, who coached the Derry senior side to the All-Ireland title 10 years ago, succeeds Matt Kerrigan who recently resigned from the post.

The Ballymaguigan man, who is coach to Gowna, a club based on the Cavan/Longford border and whom he guided to five senior championship titles, was in buoyant mood following his selection.

“I intend to get the players together in late October or early November and by that time the full team management will be in place. However, I don’t intend to begin the training schedule until after Christmas.

“Cavan’s great history and tradition is what it is, merely history. The Cavan senior team have only achieved one Ulster senior title since 1969 and that was in 1977 under Martin McHugh who also brought the team up from division 3 to division 1 in the national football league.

"Other than that year Cavan has not been a real force and have been in the doldrums for a long time

“It will be a long road before Cavan are back to challenge for an Ulster title. At this stage it will be an achievement for the senior team to get past the first round of the Ulster championship.

"They were beaten by Antrim last year and meaning no disrespect to Antrim, when you get beaten by them you’re in trouble.

“I would hope to achieve something over a three-year period as we and the team management begin to build a team.

Meanwhile, new camogie magazine called Camogie Girl was launched yesterday in Croke Park.

With the countdown to Sunday’s All-Ireland final underway, the content of the 56-page glossy magazine is directed mainly towards this decider.

Brimful of fact files, interviews with present and former players, fashion items, club features and various other articles of interest, the magazine is a timely release and will be available in the shops from today.