Kearns one of five on list for Laois manager’s job

LAOIS official Joe O’Dwyer has rejected claims that Liam Kearns will be appointed the county’s football manager tonight.

The former Limerick manager is seen as the front-runner to replace to Mick O’Dwyer but Laois officials are adamant no decision has been made.

Far from an appointment being imminent, the sub-committee formed to recommend the new man has still to interview the last of the five short-listed candidates.

Mick Dempsey, who managed Laois footballers in the 1990s and who is now a selector on the Kilkenny hurling team, has been abroad and will only meet with county officials tomorrow night.

The others interviewed are Kearns, former Laois dual player and Wexford manager Pat Roe, minor manager Andy Shorthall and former minor boss Oliver Phelan.

Meanwhile, the Laois county board will be addressing the latest hurling controversy to erupt in the county with as much haste as possible.

Last Sunday’s championship quarter-final between Castletown and Camross saw another vicious row break out, just 12 months after a similar melee between the same two teams that saw 16-year old Dean Delaney knocked unconscious.

County officials expect to receive the referee’s report today after which the clubs will be called before a specially convened meeting of the county GAC.

Elsewhere, Offaly have established a five-man committee to find a successor to Kevin Kilmurray, after the Daingean native stepped down as senior football manager last week.

Former Meath player and outgoing selector under Kilmurray, Gerry Cooney, has been mentioned as a possible contender and the indications are that the county board is looking within its own borders for candidates.

If that is the case then Rhode manager Stephen Darby will come into the equation. Darby came on as a substitute in Offaly’s All-Ireland final defeat of Kerry in 1982 when his brother, Seamus, scored the famous winning goal.

Former stars Richie Connor, Matt Connor and Sean Lowry have also been mentioned in despatches.

Tommy Breheny has been appointed Sligo senior football manager for a two year period.

Breheny took charge of Sligo last February on a caretaker basis after Dom Corrigan was told that he was no longer required.

Breheny stayed on until Sligo’s championship interest ended with defeat to Westmeath in the qualifiers.