Meyler set to get nod for Wexford hurling post

JOHN Meyler is set to be named Wexford senior hurling manager tonight.

A Special Committee, set up to find a new hurling boss have recommended Meyler but club delegates will have the final say at tonight’s Board meeting.

Meyler replaces Seamus Murphy, who left the post after Wexford lost to Clare in the All-Ireland quarter-final. He has considerable experience in team management having spent a spell with the Cork backroom team, the Kerry hurlers, while he has also enjoyed considerable success with his clubside, St. Finbarr’s.

The former Wexford and Cork hurler won an All-Ireland SHC medal with the Rebels as a substitute back in 1986.

Meanwhile Kildare is the latest county considering moving to a new stadium. The county board is to make a presentation to club officials and delegates relating to options on a move from the existing county grounds, St Conleth’s Park, to a new state-of-the-art stadium on the outskirts of Newbridge.

This process began under the chairmanship of Andrew O’Sullivan with the zoning of a 25-acre green field site for new purpose-built grounds on the Naas side of Newbridge. Syl Merrins who succeeded O’Sullivan has continued the project.

A lot of progress has been made on the project but the final decision on any potential sale and subsequent development of a new stadium will come down to the clubs.

“We will be making a presentation to the clubs with a view to the whole matter” Merrins said yesterday. “The decision on what we do is theirs.”

Wexford and Clare have also been linked with big-money sales of their county grounds in recent months.

New Laois manager Liam Kearns had his backroom staff confirmed for the 2007 season on Tuesday night with Portlaoise’s Tommy Conroy and St Joseph’s Sean Dempsey being appointed as his selectors.

Dempsey has enjoyed huge success with the county at underage level, managing the minor team that won the All-Ireland title in 2003 and the Leinster-winning U21s last summer.

Conroy has managed Portlaoise to county success and the in-depth local knowledge both men bring to the roles will be invaluable to Kearns whose background in the county is limited.

“Sean and Tommy know the scene inside out and they’re young guys who will bring a lot of energy to the team as well,” county PRO Marcella Daly said.

The draws for the groupings for the Dr McKenna Cup and the Ulster U21 football championship were made at a meeting of the Ulster Council Activities Committee in Armagh.

Monaghan, St. Mary’s College, Belfast, Armagh and Fermanagh will contest McKenna Cup Section A, Derry, Cavan, Tyrone and Queens University are in Section B while Section C is made up of Donegal, UUJ Jordanstown, Down and Antrim. The opening round of game is on January 7th.

Ulster U21 FC: Tyrone/Donegal v Armagh; Derry v Antrim; Monaghan v Cavan; Fermanagh v Down Semi-finals: Tyrone/Donegal/Armagh v Derry/Antrim. Monaghan/Cavan v Fermanagh/Down.

The final is fixed for April 14th.